From today’s Scripture: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.”—Mt 5:20

It is sometimes difficult to capture how bold and in your face some of Jesus’ statements are. Matthew 5:20 is just one example.

It could easily be rephrased for this reflection as “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of Father Aaron Wessman, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

I can imagine why the scribes and Pharisees lost patience with Jesus and ultimately plotted to harm him. He was pretty much calling them out.

Of course, Jesus was also granting them a moment of grace. I suspect that many of them, though not often depicted in the Bible, thought: “Yeah, Jesus is right. I need to correct my life. I am far from living how God desires me to live.”

I suppose any of us can insert our names in that passage. It’s true: We all fall short. Only Christ is the righteous one. If we let him live in us, we can share in his glory.

Let us pray: Jesus, help us to heed your words, especially when they are challenging to us.

Today’s author is Father Aaron Wessman, first vice president of Glenmary and author of The Church’s Mission in a Polarized World.

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