The Venerable-Martyr Theodosia the Virgin (286-305)
Romans 1:7-12; Matthew 5:42-48
Read Matthew 5:42-48
Ever been to a corporate dinner party and witnessed shmoozing? Or maybe you were the one doing it? Schmoozing is chatting persuasively in a casual manner to gain favour, business, or connections. Although it’s mostly harmless, it is to a certain extent inauthentic and shares the same roots with some of the other behaviour that Our Lord condemns in His message to us today.
Christ is the New Moses, and our reading comes from His New Law delivered on the Mount of Olives. Although the people “have heard it said” in the Law and customs which came before, Christians are not concerned with simply outward behaviours, but ultimately, the heart of the matter. It is not enough to simply love those who love us, we must love everyone, even (and especially!) those who hate us. God gives to everyone, and we are on the mission of becoming like God. Although our translation today says “that you may be” sons of the Father, the word in Greek has more of the meaning of “become.” It’s not a “once and done” thing. As we practice, day by day, becoming more like Christ, we become more the perfect children of God that we are called to be, or in other words: saints! Let us trade schmoozing for loving and hearts of stone for hearts of flesh.