REFLECTIONS TODAY
The law refers to the Torah or Pentateuch, which constitutes the first part of the Hebrew Bible, while the prophets refer to its second part which consists of former and latter prophets.
Jesus states his purpose in coming into this world: to fulfill them, not to abolish them. To fulfill means to complete or to make it perfect. The third part, the Writings, is not mentioned here.
It would be irresponsible for Jesus to set aside laws and their prophetic interpretation. Jesus did not come to sow lawlessness (anomia) , anarchy, and chaos.
The early Christian community has since recognized the value of both the Old and the New Testaments. We cannot understand fully well the New Testament without the Old Testament, and as Christians we cannot understand the Old Testament without the New Testament.
The risen Lord is the interpreter of God’s Word par excellence. We, too, can perfect our understanding of our Christian lives if we study the Word of God.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 16
“Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.”
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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.