The disciples are quizzing Jesus again. I'm trying a new way to understand the scripture readings for the day. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, recommended that we enter into the gospel through our imaginations. Imagine that we are there in the story as a participant ( a disciple, the donkey Mary rode to Bethlehem, a star shining above, whatever) and then imagine how the air felt, what the mood was, what the thoughts were of others in the story, what were the sound and meaning of the words Jesus spoke. In today's reading, (Matthew 5:17-)Jesus explains that he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. I can so see myself in this story trying to make sense of Jesus' person. Okay, now what does he want us to believe? I've grown up with this law handed down to us by our ancestors and what are we supposed to do with that? and Jesus, ever gracious and authoritative, says oh no, leave none of that behind. That is all true! Abandon nothing of our spiritual ancestors, but know that I am the fulfillment. What I have to reveal to you about salvation is the just the final word. Be alert. Be expansive enough to include it all. Open your minds and your hearts and your souls and leave nothing out that is good. In a way, maybe he is trying to help the disciples avoid the either/or choice and invite them to open wide to the reality of both/and. Maybe a part of our nature wants to create the us against them stance. Jesus seems to be very clear on this. His life is a piece of God's revelation. This feels like an invitation to me to see a wider horizon, to paint in broader strokes, to see God as active in all of life and to draw my eyes open wider to the ways he is inviting my heart to love more.
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