Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 26 March
2014 - Catholic Meditations
Meditations: Matthew 5:
17 “Don’t think that I came to
destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one
smallest letter[a] or one tiny pen stroke[b] shall in any way pass away from
the law, until all things are accomplished. 19 Whoever, therefore, shall break
one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called
least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be
called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:18
literally, iota
b. Matthew 5:18 or,
serif
3rd Week of Lent
I have come not to
abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
The Jews have
recognized the Torah—the “Law,” or “instruction,” contained in the first five
books of the Bible—as nothing less than the very revelation of God. It revealed
his intimate thoughts about himself and the sacred way of life he was offering
to his people. In centuries past, when the question was asked, “What is God
doing in heaven?” the rabbis routinely answered, “Reading Torah!”
How did Jesus view the
Torah? He told his followers that he was sent from the Father to fulfill the
Law, to bring it to fruition. That is why his Sermon on the Mount focuses on
the “heart,” or “inner intention,” behind the ancient commandments. For
example, Jesus explained that it’s not enough to avoid doing physical harm to
one’s neighbor. If we are to love from the heart, we must learn to live in
peace with our neighbor as well. Again, it’s not enough to avoid stealing and
committing adultery. We need to do away with the desire to possess what
rightfully belongs to someone else.
Even as he raised the
requirements of God’s commands, Jesus didn’t paint a picture of God as a stern
judge eager to punish our every sin. God loves us, and he invites us to embrace
his love. He wants to change us by the power of his Spirit so that we can love
what he loves and so that we can turn away from what is sinful.
God’s love is a
consuming fire. It burns away our evil desires and fills us with a longing to
please him and to lay down our lives in humble service. St. Augustine once
said, “Fulfill the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our
God, so abounding in mercy, so just in all his ways? Could anyone deny love to
him who first loved us despite all our injustice and all our pride?” Let’s ask
the Holy Spirit to purify our thoughts and fill our hearts with God’s love. Then
we will begin to desire only what is pleasing to God.
“Thank you, Lord, for
giving me your Holy Spirit. Fill my heart with your surpassing love, and make
me holy as you are holy.” Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:1 Now,
Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do
them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God
of your fathers, gives you.
5 Behold, I have taught
you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you
should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep
therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight
of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great
nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 For what great nation is there,
that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him? 8
What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as
all this law, which I set before you today?
9 Only be careful, and
keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and
lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known
to your children and your children’s children;
Psalm 147: 12 Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 For he has
strengthened the bars of your gates.
He has blessed your children within you.
15 He sends out his
commandment to the earth.
His word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives snow like
wool,
and scatters frost like ashes.
19 He shows his word to
Jacob;
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not done this
for just any nation.
They don’t know his ordinances.
Praise Yah!
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