Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19
Summary
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. (Duet 4:9).
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 (Matt 5:17).
Attitude of Gratitude
People in recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or in psychotherapy for depression or anxiety disorders are often of the practice of doing gratitude lists. That is to keep careful record of the good things that are occurring or the good ways people help them. Simple things and universal (rain, sun, night, day) and profoundly personal things (sobriety yesterday, reconciliation with family).
It should not be far from us to then apply the same line of reasoning to the Lord. Moses warned the people, having just received the law, to adapt an attitude of gratitude.
- Take Care.
- Be earnest.
- Be on guard.
- Do not forget.
- Remember what you saw (Exodus event, freedom from Egypt).
- Work at remembering them.
- Work at teaching them from generation to generation.
Jesus Remembers at the Core
In the gospel portion today, Jesus reminds the people to remember with gratitude as well. He describes it differently. Jesus says I have not come to abolish but to remember.
What follows in the gospel of Matthew is a series of six extensions of the law. Three are acceptance the Mosaic law but extend or deepen it and three reject it as a standard of conduct for the disciples (NABRE Commentary). It is helpful to remember the structure of the 5th chapter of the gospel of Matthew.
- Beatitudes – how you are to be.
- The Similes of Salt and Light – who you are.
- The Law affirmed – right relation.
- Modifiers to the Law (extend, deepen and set aside). Anger, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation and Love Enemies.
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (MT 5:48).
If the LAW is the fulcrum point then on one side we have the Beatitudes and Similies and on the other deeper expressions of the law and application.
Therefore, law is a central point but not valuable in and of itself (hang in there don’t declare a heresy yet). Law without Beatitudes and Deeper expressions is a point that has no contours. It is but nothing.
- Perhaps you prefer the analogy of the Vanishing Point. Where two parallel lines going into the distance appear to merge into one point ahead? Both are present but become one.
- Or perhaps from geometry? In geometry, a point is a fundamental, theoretical concept, an abstraction, rather than a physical reality, as it’s defined as having no dimensions or parts, which doesn’t exist in the real world (AI handy sentence).
The law then points to the Beatitudes and the pastoral refinements in expression of the law.
Personal Reflection
It s well to have an attitude of gratitude. It opens us up to the deeper truth and our reality as beloved of God. I pray for those who were my godparents (long since dead). They stood up for me in love and in the blessed hope of eternal life as I was baptized into the Lord some, ahem, years ago. Thank you, Joseph and Elizabeth (Peggy). May you rest in peace. The baptism was the deeper thing.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032625.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry