March 12, 2018  Chapters 28 A New Path to Aliveness & 29 Your Secret Life

     As we delve farther into the sermon on the mount we get to what I believe is the heart of Jesus' message. He raises the bar. He says things like, "Unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and the pharisees..." and "You have heard that it was said...but now I say..." and "You know how the scribes and pharisees make their greatness felt...it cannot be that way with you."
     These two chapters offer more challenge. It is a challenge I feel every time I read these passages as part of the Gospel readings at Mass. I always wonder if my life is measuring up to Jesus' standards.
     A couple of things that McLaren states give me a little but of comfort. The first thing he says is that it isn't a question of obeying the rules or not obeying the rules, it is about finding the greater intent of the rule maker. (page 131)
     The second thing he says in chapter 29 and I want to quote it directly. "Some people shame the poor, as if the only reason poor people are poor is that they're stupid and lazy. Some shame the rich, as if the only reason people are rich is that they're selfish and greedy. Jesus doesn't shame anyone, but calls everyone to a higher kind of wealth and a deeper kind of ambition." (Page 139)
     That to me is at the crux of Jesus' message. He raises the bar so that he can raise us not just to do more, but to be more.