WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT MARCH 18, 2020

MASS READINGS:

A reading according to the Gospel of 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.”

REFLECTION: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."

Moses set before the people the commandments given to him by God. He emphasized what a remarkable situation they had in that God was so close to them. "What great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us?" (Deuteronomy 4:7) That was the relationship that was found in the Old Testament. God walked with the Israelites, conversing with their leaders. Answering their prayers. Always taking care of them.

God first loved man and He thirsts for our love. This closeness is the key that lets us in with God. And in the New Testament, God sought out a closer, more meaningful relationship and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. But Jesus was stirring up the pot.“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. He fulfills the heart of the law by showing that the core is loving God and our neighbor.. He went into a deeper meaning and understanding of the commandments. He did not come to abolish the law set by His Father but to enhance and fulfill it. He was here to show the people how to do it.

All He did was through the prism of love and obedience. We are meant to not merely be able to recite and understand God's law but to integrate the law with love and faith. God is a personal God who is close to all and especially to the brokenhearted, lost and forsaken. Jesus is showing us how to do this. May our actions not betray us. Do we believe in prayer? Do we believe God works always for our good and nothing is impossible with God? Sometimes we believe action is better than prayer. We don't want to lose our consciousness of God with us. Yes, we act but foremost we pray with total and complete abandonment to God's will.

God Bless You.