Words Made Flesh: Jesus and the Mosaic Law

ZENIT: The World Seen from Rome is an official Vatican news site, providing online information about Roman Catholicism on a world-wide basis. Weekly reflections on Scripture come from Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, Chief Executive Officer of Canada's Salt and Light Television. What follows is an excerpt from Fr. Rosica's Biblical Reflection for this coming Sunday, the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time A.

"Matthew's Gospel reflects the situation of the early Church after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus affirms the permanent validity of the Law, but with a new interpretation, given with full authority (Matthew 5:18-19, 21-48)."

"As we continue our reflection on Matthew's great Sermon [on the Mount], we hear a long Gospel passage that may seem to be complex and filled with prohibitions (5:17-37). It is far too easy to "tune out" such a Gospel text, rather than trying to understand its rich meaning. The passage (5:17) begins with a word of reassurance: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."

"The law remains and will always remain because it comes from our unchanging God. Jesus intends to state the ideals of the new kingdom on earth that is ushered in by his appearance. ... Jesus teaches that minimal obedience is far beneath the dignity of those who love God and neighbor. To strive for less than perfect love is to strive for too little." (Emphasis added.)

To read more about "Following Jesus, Imitating Him, and Walking in His Light," click here.