Matthew 5: 17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Live in Right Relationship with Each Other
It’s tempting to read today’s Gospel with an emphasis on the word “law.” For me, this evokes a sense of rigidity, and without deeper reflection, leads me to think Jesus is calling for a straightforward, dualistic understanding of “right” and “wrong.”
However, we must not forget the larger context of Jesus’ words here. Just before this, we read the Beatitudes. While Jesus is emphatic that the Beatitudes are the commandments we must follow, these commandments are anything but straightforward. In a world that glorifies power and domination, the Beatitudes are countercultural – even radical, you might say. In our world, “law-abiding” and “radical” are often framed as at odds with one another. And yet, the radical, countercultural Beatitudes are the law of God’s kingdom. Jesus is saying the message of the prophets and what he teaches are the same: God commands we live in right relationship with each other.
—Claire DesHotels is a Regional Director for the Ignatian Spirituality Project, a ministry that walks with people in recovery from addiction and homelessness.
Prayer
Holy Spirit,
Help us embody the law of God’s kingdom and live in right relationship with each other.
When the world tempts us to seek power over our neighbors, guide us back to Jesus’ teaching.
Blessed are the persecuted, the peacemakers, the merciful – for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Our relationships are not right until they are built only in your love.
Amen.
—Claire DesHotels