Gospel Reflection

March 06, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Dt 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land  which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel Mt 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. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

HOMILY

Jesus came, not to abolish, but to fulfill the law. It is because Jesus was so surprised and frustrated with what He has seen in the Scribes and the Pharisees. They were simply complying externally. They were just doing things, but were not putting to heart what the law was about.

Laws are there to help us have a wonderful relationship with God. It is through the meaningful observance of church laws that makes our relationship with God deeper and more useful for our salvation. If we are just going to obey rules and regulations, without putting their meaning to heart, it is just like putting on powder, or using soap, or going to a dermatologist, to whiten our skin. It is all superficial, and not deep enough to change our attitude.

The laws of the church are there to help us, guide us, and deepen our spirituality in terms of our relationship with God. The question we must ask is: I come to church every day. But is my coming to church just a habit? Or is it because of my deep desire to nourish my faith in God?