Wednesday 10th MarchReadings:
Deut 4: 1, 5-9
Mt 5:17-19
Theme: To Keep or To Abolish?
We can speak of fulfilling the law in two
ways: by doing everything that is asked of or by completing that which is
missing. Jesus completes the law of the Old Testament with the new law of love
– to love one another as he has loved us. Jesus fulfills the law not by simply
fulfilling each of the many precepts, but by showing where all of the precepts
have their end: in loving God above all things. When we obey the law of love we
are fulfilling all of the laws – we are bringing them to their natural end.
The law of love reaches to the ends of the
earth. There is no created being in the universe that is outside the law of
love that Jesus has come to teach us. There is no being, not even the smallest,
that escapes the demand of this law. Am I convinced in my heart and in my
actions that the law of love asks me to love all people – not just my family,
friends and those who rub me the right way?
The commandments of the old law as
exemplified in the Ten Commandments are grave transgressions but easy to
define, referring as they do to external actions. Christ’s commandments have more subtle
expressions. Living these commandments with the proper motivation and a
considerate, dedicated attitude is what makes a person great.
Bro. John Bosco
II BTh