1/31/21 "Holy justice renders to men equality, liberty and equity, social and spiritual."

Universal Christian Church of the New Jerusalem
Shrine of Divine Mercy
Sunday of Ordinary Time
Homily of Samuel
commenting on the Gospel of Matthew, ch 5 vv. 17-37

Official site: www.nuovagerusalemme.it

Gospel of Matthew, ch 5 vv. 17-37:
Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill. Truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota or a sign from the law shall pass away without all things being fulfilled. Whosoever therefore transgresses one of these precepts, even the least of them, and teaches men to do likewise, shall be counted least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them to men will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "Do not kill; whoever kills will be judged. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Foolish,' shall be subjected to the council; and whoever says, 'Mad,' shall be subjected to the fire of hell. If, therefore, you present your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then return to offer your gift. Make an early agreement with your adversary while you are on your way with him, lest the adversary hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard and you be thrown into prison. Verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt not go out from thence until thou hast paid every penny.
Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery; but I say unto you, Whosoever looketh upon a woman to desire her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye is a cause of scandal to you, pluck it out and cast it from you: it is better that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand be a reproach unto thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is better that one of thy members should perish, than that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
But I say to you, whoever repudiates his wife, except in the case of concubinage, exposes her to adultery, and whoever marries a woman whom he has repudiated commits adultery.
You have also heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not perjure yourself, but fulfill your oaths with the Lord,' but I say to you, 'Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, because it is the footstool for his feet, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king. Nor swear by your head, for you have no power to make one hair white or black. Instead, let your speech be yes, yes; no, no; the more is from the evil one."