We often water down the law of God today. Sure, there are the commandments, but no one really keeps all the commandments, do they? God is so merciful today (unlike that mean “Old Testament” God) that he understands that rules cramp our style and inhibit freedom. At the very least, there’s a lot of gray area out there and not so much black and white. That may be the way society thinks, but our readings today give us a different story.
The first reading tells us the choice to follow God or not is as clear as the difference between fire and water, life and death, good and evil. Jesus not only doesn’t soften this, he emphasizes it. Not only does he expect us to keep the letter of the law, but he cares about the spirit too. Most of all he cares about what is in our heart.
Most people will probably not murder anyone, commit adultery, or get divorced this week. But Jesus cares about which direction our heart is headed. Are we hating our brothers and sisters? Are we insulting our spouse and refusing to sacrifice? Our we giving in to the enticements of the world rather than being faithful to our commitments? We might not be at the extreme of breaking the letter of the commandments, but which direction is your heart moving?
In the end, we will get what we want. There are only two possibilities, God or not God. That’s about as black and white as it gets. If you want God, you’ll get him for all eternity and this we call heaven. If you live your life not wanting God or his rules and only caring about yourself, then you’ll get not God and only yourself for all eternity and this we call hell. You get what you want. God or not God. Heaven or hell. So what do you want?