Whenever a new political entity, social organization, or some other institution begins, it usually puts forth a mission statement, charter, or constitution. God gave such a constitution to the People of Israel in the time of Moses, in the form of the Law: 600+ laws, rules, and regulations, the first ten of which are the familiar Ten Commandments. The purpose of the Law was for the People of Israel to embrace and internalize the Law and allow it to transform them with God’s grace into Holy People.

By the time of Jesus, many who followed the Law did so in a manner that was not as God had intended. Throughout the Gospels, we repeatedly see Jesus point out how some people were holding the Law at a distance and observing it to the letter, without allowing it to enter into their hearts, without allowing it to transform them.

Therefore, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. In certain places in Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew (see quotations below), we hear Jesus explain how mere outward observance of the Law is not sufficient to transform one into a holy person.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.”

Here we hear Jesus declare that it is not enough to simply outwardly avoid harming our brother or sister. He wants us to be healed inwardly of that anger that leads us to wish harm on our brother or sister.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Here we hear Jesus point out that it is enough to simply outwardly avoid sexual sins, but we must also strive to curb the lust that leads us to view another as an object.

And, of course, there are other ways and times that lead us to view others as objects. Take for instance, one who is a con man. Not only is he outwardly guilty of stealing from others, but also inwardly, he sees others as objects to be deceived and taken advantage of.

Let us remember that elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus sums up the entire Law as a call to (1) love God and (2) love neighbor.

Anger, lust, viewing another as a mere object to deceive or take advantage of are all obstacles to our entering into a proper relationship with our brother or sister, namely a relationship of charity and Christian love.

As we continue to walk through the Sermon on the Mount during the liturgy for weekday Masses, let us be aware of Jesus’ call that we be transformed through and through — something that we cannot bring about on our own, but only the grace of the Holy Spirit can bring about.

So let us be open to the grace of the Holy Spirit to heal us of anything that can prevent us from carrying out that second great commandment: to love our neighbor.