Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A. June 14, 2017
1st Reading: 2nd Corinthians 3:4-11
Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ towards God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious. The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9
R/. Holy is the Lord our God.
Holy Gospel: 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. 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.” The gospel of the Lord.
WEDNESDAY REFLECTIONS:
This is an interesting statement from Jesus. There are many things that could be said about it regarding the law and Jesus’ fulfillment of the law. But one thing worth reflecting upon is the great lengths Jesus goes to identify the importance of not only one letter of the law, but more specifically, the smallest part of a letter. The ultimate law of God, as brought to fulfillment in Christ Jesus, is love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.” And, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This is the ultimate fulfillment of the law of God.
If we look at this passage above, in light of the perfection of the law of love, we can hear Jesus saying that the details of love, even the smallest detail, is of grave importance. In fact, the details are what makes love grow exponentially. The smaller the detail one is attentive to in love of God and love of neighbor, the greater is the fulfillment of the law of love to the greatest degree. Think, today, about those whom God has put in our life to love. This would especially apply to family members and especially to spouses. How attentive are to every small act of kindness and compassion? Do we regularly look for opportunities to offer an encouraging word? Love is in the details and the details magnify this glorious fulfillment of God’s law of love.
Together we pray: Lord, help me to be attentive to all the big and many small ways I am called to love You and others. Help me, especially, to look for the smallest of opportunities to show this love and thus fulfill Your law. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.