REFLECTIONS TODAY The evangelist Matthew loves to point to Scripture passages as being fulfilled by Jesus. Jesus says he has come to complete “the Law and the Prophets” (two words designating the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament). However, he does not propose to literally observe them. He means to restore the Law to its true meaning and give it that finality the Pharisees believe the Law possesses. Jesus thus implies that the Law is imperfect and unfinished. Jesus goes to the core or “spirit” of the Law which expresses God’s will, translating this into the twofold commandment of love of God and of neighbor which sums up “the whole law and the prophets” (Mt 22:40). Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Love is the underlying purpose of the Law. Thus, Paul writes: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:8, 10).

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.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.