WE GO ON SALE (Wednesday Gospel On Sacred Lent)

March 18, 2020

Wednesday, 3rd Week of Lent Title: Fulfilling the Law

1st Reading: Dt 4:1, 5–9 Gospel: Mt 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)

Heavily taxed by the Romans and burdened with so many laws imposed by their own religious leaders, the Jews looked forward to a political Messiah. When they observed that Jesus was starting to violate the Sabbath law, they thought they finally had the hot-blooded rebel driven by the passion to go against the Roman invaders. They were excited. But the Pharisees saw things differently. As the self-appointed guardians of the Law they were alarmed as they saw in Jesus the rebel to shake the Law of Moses to its foundations. Jesus, however, clarified that he came not to destroy but to fulfill the Law and the (teachings of) Prophets.

Jesus was as concerned about the fulfillment of the Law of Moses as the Pharisees were. They parted ways in the manner of implementation. The Pharisees wanted the law implemented to the letter while Jesus was for the liberation of the Law’s life-giving spirit from “the letter that kills”. Jesus was also concerned about liberation as the Jewish people were. They parted in the manner of achieving liberation. The people wanted to attain liberation by the sword.

Jesus wanted to liberate his people by the transformation of hearts. By submitting himself to the Law, Jesus was effectively liberating his own people. Reflecting on this St. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons” (Galatians 4:4).

Among us today the Pharisees are alive in those who advocate the literal interpretation of the Bible. Consider how heavy a burden they impose upon their followers by insisting on a literal implementation of biblical precepts. But would any of them pluck their eyes should these lead them to sin in literal compliance of Matthew 18:9? We cannot promote the literal interpretation of the Bible, for God is never inclined to condemn us to the literal interpretation of his Word. “For the letter kills,” St. Paul wrote, “but the spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). — (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., JD, DM, MMExM.