By Amala William csc –
Readings: 2 Cor 3:4-11; Mt 5:17-19
In the first reading, St. Paul gives us the confidence that we have Christ as a way to reach God. He has made all of us to be worthy participants not by mere letter of law but by the Spirit. In the gospel reading, we see that Jesus comes up with a strong statement saying, ‘Not a dot will pass from the law.’
The reason for putting him to death was the accusation of breaking laws and commandments. Jesus was a Jew and at the same time, radical about following the law. He was not in the favor of the upper class, i.e., the Pharisees or Scribes who manipulated the laws for their whims and fancies.
It could have been much easier for Jesus to be on their side as he would have got privileges and prestigious salutations from people. Jesus was the son of God and he lived in accordance with the spirit of the law. In his lifetime, he learned it seeing the oppression of the oppressed. One group of people claimed to be interpreters of law and those burdensome laws were exclusively for poor people.
The others who broke the law would find a loophole to justify themselves. We see in Mk 7:11; ‘what is to be done to the parents is for God’. Such an injustice was prevalent in the Jewish traditions. Jesus becomes the voice for all those who are silenced by the law. He upholds the spirit of the law, which does not see the literal letters; rather it goes deeper into the meaning of the law itself for the welfare of all.
Often, I do things because it is scheduled, and not realize the purpose they serve. There is a lack of personal reflection which makes me do things blindly. Over time, I lose interest and get frustrated with myself with what I am doing. I should make sense out of what I am following, and then I can confidently convince the others what it is. It is the same with relationship with the Lord, if I go with what he/she said about Jesus, I may lose sight of him. I should be able to experience the Lord, then I can say Jesus is loving.
On this day, let us pray that each of us would have a sound mind and heart to examine ourselves to experience the Lord in our daily life.