This is a response to Matthew 5:17-37

I sit and I wait and no words come.  Usually a spring of images arrives before me, but today, nothing.  This scripture hurts, in some places just a little and in others a lot, as I read it and pray over it.  Words like divorce, anger, death, and lust leave me bruised and blocked from writing a thing.

Yet, I have come to embrace pain as my teacher. The little ache I feel in my heart comes from hearing and feeling certain sacred words in this week’s gospel that give me hope where I experience despair, love where I experience loneliness and joy where I experience sadness.

All the rules I have followed to the letter of the law have only proven to reveal God working in the exceptions.  For those who have walked through divorce or separation and endured a brutal marriage, I am your girl in compassion for your suffering.  For those of you who have been blessed with a good marriage, you might just want to just hop down to Joy’s writing.

In my heart, I feel Jesus is giving men a strong talking to and that’s why I can’t easily find my place in this gospel.  I am the lady by the well, eavesdropping.  He seems to be telling men a special message about love in the spirit of the law.  You men are powerful.  I am not talking about careers or salaries.  I am talking about the true beauty of a loving, open and kind-hearted man.  There is nothing like it.

Lingering in my prayer at the gospel’s scene, I eventually catch the attention of the One talking.  With him approaching, I surrender.  Listening intently, as the origin of the word “obey” implies, and reaching out to hold God’s hand, as the word “commandment” implies, I imagine every secret dream my heart holds is fulfilled, not abolished.  No child uncared for, no elderly left unattended, no man rejected and no woman scorned.  In all of life’s circumstances, I thank you Lord for turning curses into blessings and bringing good out of trouble.

To read the passage for yourself, click on this link…  Matthew 5:17-37