THE TEACHER WHO REALLY GOES BEYOND

 

Three paragraphs, three separate lessons. Short as our Gospel passage today seems to be, it is nevertheless loaded with this combination of compact teachings from our Lord Jesus. (Incidentally, such an occurrence is possible, from the point of view of the behind-the-scenes work. The Gospel writers understandably took some liberty in making editorial arrangements.)

Perhaps we can take our pick among the three lessons. Now even just a quick glance at the passage will make us single out the one in the middle, the famous Golden Rule.

And to think that it isn’t even an original teaching of Jesus Christ. Other wise men antedating Him in history or the major religions of the world have their own versions of it. Considering the variety of beliefs, languages and cultures, it is remarkable that the core teaching is the same.

Nevertheless, Jesus Christ couldn’t have put it better as He did and there lies His originality: He actually made it a summary of “the law and the prophets” — that is, the Old Testament teaching in its entirety. With this background, therefore, we now appreciate even more Jesus as Teacher.

What is even more admirable is that He would always be the first to apply His own teaching to nobody else but Himself. Wasn’t His own Passion and Death the result of His criticism and castigation of the scribes and Pharisees? He did to them what His enemies in turn did as well to Him, but more: they, the chief priests and the Romans, accused Him falsely, subjected Him to a mock trial, tortured, ridiculed and crucified Him. Whereas beneath the Golden Rule is an equal, tit-for-tat conduct, the excessive treatment Jesus got only goes to show the limitation or defect of this law.

No wonder our Lord, in His promulgation of the New Law, was never contented with staying at the minimum. His challenge was to go beyond w h a t i s m e r e l y stipulated, not to be satisfied with mere compliance with the lowest requirements. Jesus comes indeed as a teacher who really goes beyond!  Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

Do I walk my talk?

 

Lord Jesus, You gave us an example of what a good teacher is: one who applies to one’s self his own teachings. Help me to become a good teacher like You. Amen.

 

St. Terence, pray for us.