Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

 

In light of today’s media frenzy to find fault in everything, can’t you see Jesus being challenged by one of his opponents in a debate.  Can you see the advertisement – Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors.  The news media would paint Jesus as a violator of the Jewish law and a criminal.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus is again being changed by the establishment.  Jesus puts to bed the idea that somehow he came to abolish the Mosaic laws formulated by God in the Old Testament or that He somehow replaces the old laws. Instead he tells us, “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” So what does that actually mean? Jesus wants us to live our lives not only in compliance with the Mosaic law, but also with the spirit of the law. “To fulfill the law” means He came to complete what is written in the Old Testament. We know that God gave us his only Son to save us from our sins. He gave us his son out of the pure love He has for humanity. It is this love conveyed by God that fulfills the commandments. To obey the laws is to love God with all your heart and all your soul.  To love your neighbor as the Father loved the Son is to love God through your actions. This is why disobeying the laws injures our relationship with God and our neighbors. Jesus tells us that, “whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.” When we try to justify our sins and transgressions, we are teaching others that it is okay to sin. Not only do you damage your relationship with God, you also cause others to damage their relationship with God. He wants just the opposite. He wants us to bring the kingdom of God to others through our actions and our practices. “But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

God, help me to obey your commandments.

Give me the strength and courage I need to respect your law.

Give me the grace to lead others to your will.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon