Gehenna justice and mercy

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today invites us to reflect on justice and interpretation of the Law. The passage from the Prophet Ezekiel in the Hebrew Testament addresses the nature of justice in the eyes of God. Friar JudeWinkler comments that the punishment we experience for our sin is the consequence of our choice to move away from the direction set by God. The reasoning of this passage seems to indicate that those who know the life of Love they are rejecting to choose the self serving focus and isolation of sin are acting in a most reprehensible manner in the eyes of God. The death at least of the soul, if not the body, which accompanies the self serving decision is only defeated by the mercy of God toward all who turn from transgression to pursue holiness. The Gospel from Matthew today is an example to Luis Rodriguez, S.J.of Creighton University of the declaration that Jesus spoke with authority, not like their Scribes [Mk. 1:22]. The Law of Moses was interpreted by the Pharisees through many prescriptions on behaviour. Jesus presents the spirit of the Law and enumerates some examples of how we may kill our brothers with words and lack of forgiveness. The reference in this text to Gehenna ,in the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem, may have been inspired by actually looking at the place of shame which, in Jesus time, had become a dump for the Temple. The Jewish heritage of the audience to whom Matthew wrote would inform them of the long history of desecration in this place of idol worship and of the teaching of the rabbis about the judgement of God on the people at death. In Christian Life, we are reminded that we need to be in loving relationship with our brothers and sisters as we seek to follow Jesus in holiness. From whom do I need forgiveness for my actions or omissions which have favored death over life? Who do I need to forgive for actions which stick to my consciousness as death dealing?