Theme: if you keep the laws, you will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
Scripture reading: Deut. 4:1, 5-9; Ps. 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Mt. 5:17-19
In today’s liturgy of the word we read about the laws of the Lord. The Jews centred their lives on the laws and the prophets. The foundation of all Jewish beliefs and religious practices is based on the first five books of the Bible. They are known as Torah. They are also called books of Moses. The Jews have written tradition as well as oral traditions. The oral traditions are now collected into what is called Midrash and Talmud. Some Jewish scholars will say that the written tradition cannot be followed without the oral tradition.
The Jews made 613 instructions out of ten commandments, they are called mitzvahs. For the Jewish people more than instructions. They help them to connect to God and his people. When so much of emphasis is given to the Torah (laws) in the Jewish religion, the Jews spent hours in learning them. They meticulously followed them in their day to day life. It was imaginable to see the Jewish without the laws. Moses told the people of Israel just before entering into the promise land that they ought to listen to the laws of the Lord. He told them to observe them. The observance of the laws will make them a wise nation. He exhorted them to repeat the laws and the deeds of the Lord to the children that they may learn and remember them in their lives.
Against this background, Jesus was accused of breaking the laws. This was one of the accusations of the scribes and Pharisees against Jesus. Jesus clearly states that He had come to complete the laws. He also asserts that not even a dot not one little stroke shall disappear from the laws until its purpose is fulfilled. He also condemns the one who infringes and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven.
We know Jesus is the fulfilment of all the laws and the prophets. The church being the mother helps us today to follow the path of Jesus. It exhorts us to follows the magisterium of the church. The teaching of the magisterium helps us to love God and love our neighbour. It basically helps us to connect with God. The law was originated from the covenant that God made with the people of Israel. They happily accepted the laws as guideline to protect their love relationship with God. The magisterium of the Church also need to be understood in the same way. How do I respond to the call of Church when she calls me to follow her laws to lead a life of holiness? Let us remember that Jesus says, “the man who keeps the laws and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Fr. Alex D’Mello
