In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus speaks at length to us with examples that are plain, ordinary, familiar and, therefore, too direct and too personal to be easily dismissed. (Matthew 5: 17-37) 

As he teaches about the action of the Holy Spirit in minds and hearts that are receptive, we begin to regret the opportunities we missed to be transformed by his divine teachings. 

“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Mat. 5:17. 

The Spirit of love reminds us that all of God’s laws manifest his infinite love and that such love, found even in the minutiae of divine laws, calls for our availability for loving service in the little things of daily life. 

Indeed, many a saint proved that “Nothing is too small a thing if it is done with love.”  

Applying this measuring stick to our inner disposition, we are forced to wonder where we fall between the two extremes of the least and the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 

“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Mat. 5:20 

This phrase is like a sword piercing our soul and exposing the times in which we justify our refusal to help by hiding behind a convenient law.  

It also unmasks any effort to appear generous, open-minded, irreproachable, without thinking that we cannot fool the One who probes minds and hearts.  

Hence, we might have to admit that not too often we let the Holy Spirit spur us on to love as Jesus has loved us, to the very limit of total self-immolation. 

“But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Mat. 5:22 

At first, we might think that we can pass this scrutiny because we recall that, a few times, Jesus himself got very angry and violent (Jn. 2:15; Mat. 23:13-29; Lk 19:46) 

However, we cannot forget that Jesus was fully justified in displaying his anger and in acting violently because he was condemning the wrong inner disposition of those who failed to give the glory and praise due to God the Father. 

Presently, even if Jesus cannot ignore any wanting vertical relationship with his Heavenly Father, he focuses on our horizontal relationship with each other.  

The Holy Spirit is poured out upon all of God’s children by adoption so that they may overcome their many miseries and flaws and strive for holiness, for becoming more Christ-like with every passing day. 

Our anger towards anyone beset by weaknesses and sins, betrays lack of self-knowledge and disregard for truthfulness, and overlooks the fact that we are all, without exception, in constant need of God’s mercy. 

“Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Mat. 5:26 

The shockwaves of this alarming statement should prompt us to beg the Spirit of truth and light to shed his light in the dark recesses of our hearts! 

Hence, we face the scary possibility that we might have lived good segments of our life convinced that we were correct; our way of thinking, talking and acting irreprehensible and, thus, that we were entitled to look down, criticize, judge and even condemn others.  

Shock of all shocks! Jesus warns us that, as just judge, God sides with our opponents, with those whom we scorn, criticize, judge and condemn… 

“But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Mat. 5:28 

The Spirit of truth should have the easiest time in leading us to own up to this embarrassing condition of our wandering heart. 

And, in the same sweeping motion of divine power, the Holy Spirit will lead us to extreme sacrifices to avoid winding up into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna.  

But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Mat. 5:32 

How much pain, losses and devastation hardness of heart causes, as it is always born of innate hubris!  

Hence, as a community of faith, we shall call upon the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and make them humble, capable of enduring a lot for love of Jesus. 

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. Mat. 5:37 

Jesus concludes this important life lesson with an invitation to truthfulness and straightforwardness.  So, thank you, Jesus for it, and come, Holy Spirit, come and take hold of our minds and heart—for good.