WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN LENT
PLEASE READ MATTHEW 5: 17-19
In today's Gospel, a scene is described of Jesus speaking to His disciples during His ministry. He tells them that although He is the Savior of the world, He has not come to change their laws and customs. Jesus exclaims He has "come not to abolish but to fulfill." Instead of throwing away all the knowledge His disciples have learned from the Law and the prophets, He wants them to understand that He is the fulfillment of which these prophets have been speaking.
Jesus goes on to tell His followers, and really all of us today, that the Law of God, the Ten Commandments given to Moses long ago, will never change no matter what happens. In this Gospel, Jesus also distinctly reveals to all that those who break any commandment and teaches their peers to do likewise, will be the least in the eyes of God. However those who follow the commandments and spread their good message to others shall be looked upon as the greatest in Heaven.
The message of this Gospel is quite simple and direct. The Law of God, is just that, the ultimate and final Law. Jesus tells His disciples this to assure them that although His coming has fulfilled the prophecies of the past, the Law should not be discarded in the present and future. As followers of Christ we too learn a great message in this Gospel. In order to be looked at as the greatest in God's eyes, we must all follow and teach others the Commandments.
Written by Shannon O'Brien, a member of Junior C.R.O.S.S.