Thinking twice about righteousness . . .

Today's Lenten meditation from The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle of CREDO:

"For I tell you," Jesus says, "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." --Matthew 5:20.

Lent makes us stop, and even perhaps chuckle, when realizing the deep irony of Jesus. Christian folk need to actively imagine and practice the way that Jesus perceives the world, not only for particular individuals but for all people. After all, those in Matthew's context who were supposed to be going to heaven--the righteous--were reinterpreted by Jesus as being the furthest from heaven.The irony here was that sinners--like thieves, prostitutes and tax collectors--were closer to heaven because they knew they needed God; whereas, professional religious leaders were farther away because they thought they had God figured out. In Lent, Jesus makes us see differently. Those who are supposed to go to heaven are now seen as getting in the way of heaven.It is crucial that we understand Jesus' irony: "Seeing, they do not perceive." This insight of Jesus not only redeems the image of Christianity in the world, but it also allows Christianity to do genuine good, to grow into its global purpose of facilitating diversity and unity through its humility of knowing that only one is perfect--Jesus of Nazareth. In this season of Lent we must listen deeply to Jesus' call to such humility so that we can usher in the reign of God.

Let us pray,
Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.