In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, Jesus proposes that his followers ratchet up a notch the traditional Jewish observances. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors… But I say to you…” Lent provides us the opportunity to assess if we are making progress in following the way of Christ. We should be glad that we do not slug the people who irritate us. But Jesus asks us to take the next step and not yell at them. After we have that down we take the next step and not even get angry with them (since no one can make us angry.) Then the next step of biting our tongue when they irritate us and finally the step of saying something nice.
