Parish of St. Edward the Confessor Daily Lenten/Easter Reflections


lent
February 27, 2008

By

Don Nolan


lent

Reading 1
Psalm
Gospel

Text of Reflection:  
February 27, 2008

Reflection on the Gospel reading for February 27, 2008
 
            Whenever I read Matthew 5: 17-19 I am left wondering what Jesus meant in saying he had come to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it.  What laws did he have in mind?

All the ones set forth by the prophets of the Old Testament or those included in the religious life of the Jews?  Surely he didn’t mean the dietary laws that regulated the eating habits of the people.  Does this passage cause similar confusion for you?  I trust my reaction is not unique.  Anyway I quickly remind myself what Scripture scholars point out, which is this:  When Jesus says, “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.  I have come not to abolish but to complete them,” he is calling us to interpret the laws in the spirit of his Gospel message.
 
            Like many other readings selected to be included in the liturgy, reading today’s Gospel cries out to us to go to our Bibles and read the selected passage in context, and in this case read at least the next 28 verses, the first of which says:  “‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.’”  Jesus urges us to go beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law.  Some examples: don’t kill, of course, but also don’t let your anger lead you to call your brother a fool.  Don’t become an adulterer, of course, but also don’t look upon a woman or a man with lust in your heart.  Don’t seek “an eye for an eye;” rather do not return evil for evil.  Finally, don’t hate your enemy; rather “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  In other words, “You must be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
 
            Once again, Jesus does not make our being his follower easy.  But in calling us to a higher level of performance, he promises us he will be with us every step of the way.
 
            Now that I have given this matter some more thought, I invite you to go beyond  Matthew 5: 17-48 and read all of the Sermon on the Mount, which begins with Chapter 5: 1 and ends with Chapter 7: 29.  It reminds us of just how radical – and inspirational – Jesus’s message is, not only for this Lent but forever.