Beloved, it is the wish of every Christian believer to enjoy that blissful kingdom which God had prepared for us. Heaven is surely a beautiful place radiating the beautiful presence of God.
In the gospel of today, Jesus set a criteria for going to that kingdom. He said, “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20-26).
In other words, to be able to afford going to the kingdom of heaven, we ought to develop a deeper virtue beyond surface spirituality.
Jesus teaches His disciples that their quest for spiritual perfection must be preceded by good human relations. “Before you bring your offering to the altar of God, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift,” He says. It isn’t always easy to accept or forgive people with whom we live and work.
It demands that we let go of our self-centeredness, egoism and sense of power. But when we make the effort to reconcile with persons around us, we gain internal peace and serenity. This prepares us to develop a deeper spiritual relationship with God.
Jesus calls us today into a deeper spirituality that places love of God and humanity above others. Let us today treat each and everyone with love and sincerity. Peace be with you
