Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading I: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5–9
Psalm: 147:12–13, 15–16, 19–20
Gospel: Matthew 5:17–19

Sacred Scripture teaches us that law and love are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, Jesus informs us at one point, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” ( John 14:15).

In today’s readings, the Church reminds us of the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. Just as Moses offered a preliminary law to the Israelites and then was forced to expand its precepts due to their apostasy (see Exod 32; Num 25), so, too, Jesus offers a law that will form the basis for the New Covenant. Of course, many of the specific ceremonial and dietary instructions of the Mosaic Law are no longer necessary in the New Testament era. Nevertheless, the core principle of the old and new laws are exactly the same: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

What is that core principle? It is the principle of love. All the rules and regulations imposed on the Israelite people were provided for their own good: to discipline them in holiness, to protect them, and to keep them from falling away. And although Jesus does away with some of these practices, the striking thing about His teaching is that He introduces a law that is more stringent, not less. Whereas the law of Moses decrees an eye for an eye, Jesus commands us to turn the other cheek. Whereas the law of Moses cautioned against adultery, Jesus warns us that when we look at a person with lust we are already committing adultery in our hearts! When we realize all this, we see that Jesus is telling the truth when He says He is not abolishing the law. In fact, quite the opposite: He is perfecting it, elevating it, and giving us the grace to fulfill it.

Do I at times regard the Church’s moral precepts and requirements as tedious and burdensome?

How can I challenge myself to dive deeper into a real acknowledgment that these “laws” are actually stepping-stones helping me to grow in love?

Reference:

Journey Through Lent: Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings by Clement Harrold