Christ: Fulfilment of the Law

Sunday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Is-Sitt Ħadd Matul is-Sena

Messalin A pp 276

Reading 1      

Bin Sir ak 15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;  if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ktieb ta' Bin Sirak 15, 15-20

Jekk trid tista' tħares il-kmandamenti, u b'rieda tajba tista' tkun fidil. Hu qegħedlek quddiemek in-nar u l-ilma' liema trid minnhom, midd idek għalih. Quddiem il-bniedem hemm il-ħajja u l-mewt, u liema tixtieq qalbu lesta għalih. Għax għerf il-Mulej hu bla qjies, qawwi f'setegħtu u jara kollox. Għajnejh fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu, u jagħraf kull ma jagħmel il-bniedem. Lil ħadd ma qabbad jgħix ħażin, u lil ħadd ma rħielu jidneb. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm              

PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

                                            
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

                               
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Salm Responsorjali

Salm 118 (119)

                    

Ħenjin dawk li triqthom bla ħtija,

li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Ħenjin dawk li jħarsu l-preċetti tiegħu,

u li jfittuh b'qalbhom kollha.                                         

            R/    Ħenjin dawk li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Int tajt il-preċetti tiegħek,

biex inħarsuhom bir-reqqa.

Ħa jżomm sħiħ il-mixi tiegħi

fil-ħarsin tal-kmandamenti tiegħek!                    

            R/    Ħenjin dawk li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Kun twajjeb mal-qaddej tiegħek,

agħtini li ngħix u nħares il-kelma tiegħek.

Iiftaħli għajnejja,

biex nara l-għeġubijiet tal-liġi tiegħek.    

            R/    Ħenjin dawk li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Għallimni, Mulej, it-triq tal-kmandamenti tiegħek;

jiena rrid nibqa' fiha sa l-aħħar.

Fehemni biex inħares il-liġi tiegħek

u nagħmilha b'qalbi kollha.                                

            R/    Ħenjin dawk li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Reading 2      

1 CORINTHIANS  2:6-10

Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lill-Korintin 2, 6-10

Ħuti,  aħna ngħallmu l-għerf  fost dawk li huma perfetti,  imma mhux l-għerf tad-dinja, anqas l-għerf tal-prinċpijiet ta' din id-dinja, li se jintemmu fix-xejn. Ngħallmu l-għerf ta' Alla moħbi f'misteru, li Alla fassal qabel iż-żmien għall-glorja tagħna. Ebda wieħed mill-mexxejja ta' din id-dinja ma għarfu; kieku għarfuh, qatt ma kienu se jsallbu lill-Mulej tal-glorja. Imma, bħalma hu miktub: "Dak li għajn qatt ma rat u  widna qatt ma semgħet, u dak li qatt ma tnissel f'qalb  il-bniedem,  dak li Alla lesta għal dawk li jħobbuh." Alla rrivelahulna permezz ta' l-Ispirtu, għax l-Ispirtu jgħarbel kollox, sa fil-qiegħ ta' Alla.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel           

MATTHEW 5:17-37

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. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your Brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said,  You shall not commit adultery.  But I say to you, everyone who Looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.  But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -‑ unless the marriage is unlawful -‑ causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 5, 17-37

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu:  "Xejn taħsbu li ġjet inwaqqa'  l-Liġi jew il-Profeti;  jiena ma ġejtx biex inwaqqagħhom, iżda biex inwassalhom għall-milja tagħhom. Tassew ngħidilkom, li sa ma jkunu għaddew is-sema u l-art anqas  l-iżgħar ittra jew tikka waħda mil-Liġi ma titneħħa sa ma jkun seħħ kollox. Jekk mela xi ħadd iġib fix-xejn wieħed mill-iżgħar minn dawn il-Kmandamenti u jgħallem lin-nies biex jagħmlu l-istess, dan jissejjaħ l-iżgħar fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Imma min iħarishom u jgħallimhom, dan kbir jissejjaħ fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet.   Ngħidilkom li, jekk il-ħajja tajba tagħkom ma tkunx ħafna aħjar minn dik tal-kittieba u l-Fariżej,  ma tidħlux fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiiet. Smajtu xi ntqal lin-nies ta' dari:  " La toqtolx. Jekk xi ħadd joqtol ikun ħaqqu l-kundanna.   Imma jien ngħidilkom li l-kundanna  tistħoqq ukoll lil min jinkorla għal ħuħ.  Jekk imbagħad xi ħadd lil ħuh igħidlu:  "Ġifa," ikun ħaqqu l-kundanna tas-Sinedrija; u jekk igħidlu: "Iblah", ikun ħaqqu n-nar tal-infern. Mela jekk tkun qiegħed ittalla' l-offerta iegħek fuq l-artal u hemm tiftakar li ħuk għandu xi ħaġa kontra tiegħek, ħalli l-offerta tiegħek hemmhekk quddiem l-artal u mur l-ewwel irranġa ma' ħuk, u  mbagħad  ejja talla'  l-offerta tiegħek. Lil min ikun se jtellgħek il-qorti ħuda bil-kelma t-tajba  mill-aktar fil-waqt li tkun għadek miegħu fit-triq li ma jmurx jagħtik f'idejn l-imħallfef, u l-imħallef f'idejn l-għassies, u hekk issib ruħek fil-ħabs.   Tassew ngħidlek, minn hemm ġew ma toħroġx qabel ma tkun ħallast l-aħħar tliet ħabbiet. Smajtu xi ntaql:  "La tagħmil adulterju."   Imma jiena  ngħidilkom li kull min iħares  lejn mara biex jixtieqha jkun ġa għamel adulterju magħha f'qalbu. Jekk għajnejk il-lemijina hi għalik okkażjoni ta' dnub, aqlagħha barra u armiha 'l bogħod minnek, għax aktar ikun jaqbillek jikk tintiliflek biċċa waħda minn ġismek milli ġismek kollu jinxteħet fl-infern.  U jekk idek  il-lemija hi għalik okkażjoni ta' dnub, aqtagħha barra u armiha 'l bogħod minnek, għax aktar ikun jaqbillek jekk  tintiliflek biċċa waħda minn ġismek mill-ġismek kollu imur fl-infer. Intqal ukoll:  "Min jibgħat lil martu jkollu jagħtiha l-ktiba tad-divorzju." Imma jiena ngħidilkom li kullmin jibgħat lil martu barra l-każ ta' żwieġ ħażin, iwaqqagħha fl-adulterju; u min jiżżewweġ waħda mibgħuta minn ħaddieħor jagħem adulterju. Smajtu wkoll xi ntaql lin-nies ta' dari:  "Tonqosx mill-wegħda li ħlift imma rodd lill-Mulej il-wegħdiet li ħlieftlu." Imma jiena ngħidilkom biex ma taħilfu xejn, u la bis-sema, u lanqas b'Ġerusalemm, għaliex hija l-Belt tas-Sultan il-Kbirl. U lanqas   b'rasek ma għandek taħlef, għaliex inti anqas biss  Xagħra waħda ma għandek ħila tagħmilha bajda u sewda. Mela ħa jkun id-diskors tagħkom:  "iva, iva"';  "le, le";   kull ma hu iżjed minn hekk ikun ġej mill-Ħażin. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Commentary:

Following Jesus, Imitating Him, and Walking in His Light

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

Matthew’s Gospel this Sunday reflects the situation of the early Church after the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.). Throughout the Gospel, Jesus affirms the permanent validity of the Law (Mt 5:18-19), but in a new interpretation, given with full authority (Mt 5:21-48). Jesus “fulfils” the Law (Mt 5:17) by radicalizing it: at times he abolishes the letter of the Law (divorce, law of the talion), at other times, he gives a more demanding interpretation (murder, adultery, oaths), or a more flexible one (sabbath). Jesus insists on the double commandment of love of God (Dt 6:5) and of neighbor (Lv 19:18), on which “depends all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 22:34-40). Along with the Law, Jesus, the new Moses, imparts knowledge of God's will to mankind, to the Jews first of all, then to the nations as well (Mt 28:19-20).

The Sermon on the Mount is the place in the New Testament where one sees the power over the law (which Israel had received from God as the foundation of the covenant) clearly affirmed and decisively exercised by Jesus. It is there, on that holy mountain in Galilee, after having declared the perpetual validity of the law and the duty to observe it (Mt 5:18-19), that Jesus went on to affirm the necessity of a righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees, or of an observance of the law animated by the new evangelical spirit of charity and sincerity.

As we continue our reflection on Matthew's great sermon, we will hear a long Gospel passage on Sunday which may seem to be complex and filled with prohibitions [5:17-37].  It is far too easy to “tune out” to such a Gospel text, rather than trying to understand its rich meaning.  The passage [5:17] begins with a word of reassurance: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."  The law remains and will always remain because it comes from our unchanging God.  Jesus intends to state the ideals of the new kingdom on earth that is ushered in by his appearance.  His whole intention is to bring people beyond legalism [which seriously affected the Scribes and the Pharisees] and a literal interpretation of rules, and into the spirit of the law.  Jesus teaches that minimal obedience is far beneath the dignity of those who love God and neighbour.  To strive for less than perfect love is to strive for too little.

Beyond legalism and literalism

Matthew 5:21-48 contains six examples of the conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. Each deals with a commandment of the law, introduced by "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors" or an equivalent formula, followed by Jesus' teaching in respect to that commandment, "But I say to you;" thus their designation as "antitheses." Three of them accept the Mosaic law but extend or deepen it (Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28; 43-44); three reject it as a standard of conduct for the disciples (Matthew 31-32; 33-37; 38-39).

The first example of the conduct demanded of the Christian disciple consists in the victory over anger, resentment and ill will, which are frequently stored in the human heart, even with the outward observance of the Mosaic precepts, among which is that of not killing. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" (Mt 5:21-22). The same holds good in the case of one who has offended another with hurtful words, mockery and derision. It is the condemnation of all yielding to the instinct of aversion, which is potentially an act of injury and even of killing, at least spiritually, because it violates the required love in human relationships and causes harm to others.

Jesus presents the purifying law of charity that re-orders human beings in their most intimate heart of hearts, "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt 5:23-24).  The love preached by Jesus equalizes and unifies all in willing what is good, in establishing or re-establishing harmony in relations with one's neighbors, and even in cases of legal contentions and proceedings (cf. Mt 5:25).

Jesus offers a second example of bringing the law to perfection concerning the sixth commandment of the Decalogue in which Moses prohibited adultery.  Jesus announced, "You have heard what was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you..." (Mt 5:27). He went on to also condemn impure looks and desires, while recommending flight from occasions of sin, the courage of mortification, the subordination of all acts and behavior to the demands of the salvation of the soul and of the whole person (cf. Mt 5:29-30).  Linked to this case is another of Jesus’ teaching moments when he said: “Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.' But I say to you...." He declared as no longer valid the concession made by the old law to the people of Israel "because of the hardness of their hearts" (cf. Mt 19:8), by prohibiting even this form of the violation of the law of love in harmony with the re-establishment of the indissolubility of marriage (cf. Mt 19:9).

In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus also taught that one should not be disbelieving or distrustful of one's neighbour when he is habitually candid and sincere. Rather, one should follow this fundamental law of speech and action, "Let your 'yes' mean 'yes' and your 'no' mean 'no.' Anything more is from the evil one" (Mt 5:37).

Not to abolish but to fulfil

Jesus' language of fulfillment must always be understood in relation to the Covenant with the Jewish people and in relation to the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.  This fulfillment and non-abolition on the one hand indicates the confirmation of the Old Testament, since God's Word is one just as He is one.  On the other hand it indicates the fullness of the New, in which God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (cf. Mt 28:19).

Jesus knows the Law perfectly and observes it with devotion. However, He shows Himself perfectly free with regard to the Law.  He wishes to give the authentic interpretation of the Law (the sabbath, forbidden foods, legal purifications, fasting etc., and to show its depth and interiority.  He goes so far as to declare Himself the new lawgiver, with an authority equal to that of God.  He Himself is the fulfillment of the Law (cf. Rm 10:4).  Jesus also shows that He is the genuine continuation of the prophets in His message and His life.  Like them, He proclaims faith in the "God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" (Mt 2:32).

Jesus also presents Himself as a fulfillment of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament.  These books, under the form of psalms, proverbs and popular narratives, show an awareness that the people of God is governed on one side by the Law, which indicates the way, and on the other side, by the Prophets, who correct the people, the kings and even the priests when they go astray.

A love that is precise and challenging

In the New Testament, Jesus presents Himself not merely as the continuation or the end of the Old Testament, but as something completely new, original and superior.  Jesus makes God’s love very precise and challenging.  Love is measured by faithfulness to the smallest details, to the periods and commas of the law.  And our ability to follow it is purely a gift from above.  Jesus’ life was a model of this fulfillment. Jesus could say to his disciples not only and not merely, "Follow my law," but, "Follow me, imitate me, walk in the light which comes from me."

Jesus does not only help us to gain a better understanding of the Bible; but He Himself is the perfect and comprehensive Word of God, because He "is the very reflection of His glory, the very imprint of His being, the one who sustains all things by His mighty word" (Heb 1:3).  He is the Word who "became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (Jn 1:14).  He is "the true light, which enlightens everyone" (Jn 1:9).  He is the "first and the last, the one who lives" (Rev 1:17,18).  Everything in the Bible and history cannot be definitively understood except in the light of Christ.

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