Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Lenten Weekday
1st Reading: Dt 4:1.5-9
Gospel:
Matthew 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to remove but to fulfill them. I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.
“So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys them and teaches others to do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
In his Essay entitled “The Faculties of the Mind”, Jonathan Swift wrote: “Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through”. But we have heard it also said, “Those who have less in life should have more in the law”. Both are heavy with bias.
How did Jesus look at the Mosaic Law, which at that time was the prevailing law? Jesus found it defective. His most direct attack against it was on the provision related to divorce. It therefore came as a surprise when he declared that “As long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.” From all appearances the statement supports the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law to the letter. But how come he lambasted the Scribes and the Pharisees for being literal about their interpretation of the Law? A logical construction then could only be along the line of Jesus advocating a new law.
Jesus hinted to a time when a new law of love would be in place. The phrase ‘as long as heaven and earth last’, refers to a period that was ending, marked by his Passion and death. Those listening to Jesus were considered living in the last and final age (see Isaiah 65, 17; 66, 22). As the kingdom was already breaking in during his ministry, his teachings were to remain within the framework of the law. But when the event of his Passion would come, a new law would prevail: the law of love.
Jesus demonstrated this new Law by stooping down to wash the feet of the disciples. St. Augustine brought to light the supremacy of this Commandment when he said: “Love God and do what you please.” This Commandment does not do away with human laws. If all have love of God in their hearts, they will respect all laws enacted for the moral good of all, big or small.
The Commandment of Love can be compared to a cobweb too. But far from being selective in destroying the small and letting through the big ones, love will not catch and destroy but will embrace and build up everyone. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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