Homilies6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: TEACHING WITH AUTHORITYMt 15: 17-37
First, Jesus says that his aim is not to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. As teacher, Jesus was different from the prevailing teachers and scribes at the time. The latter’s teachings were simply confined to quoting the Scriptures which can be seen in the phrases, “God said…” or “It is written…” But Jesus is different from them because he comments and perfects these laws. Often in his teachings, he would say: “You have heard the commandment… But now I say to you.” Indeed, as God or the Son of God, Jesus teaches with authority. Second, it is on this context that Jesus exhorts his disciples to obey these laws. He emphasizes that those who break these laws are considered least in the kingdom, while those who obey these laws are considered as greatest in the kingdom. The question of obedience to laws is one the problems today. There are some of us who are not serious in following the civil or state laws. This attitude could have a spillover to following Christ’s laws or the Church laws. At first blush, we find these laws as a burden to us. That could be the reason why we failed to follow them. But if we try to reflect further on them, they are not actually burdensome. Instead they free us because these lead us to following the will of God for us. Third, let us try to have a closer look at one of the laws mentioned in the gospel that was commented and perfected by Jesus. Jesus told his disciples, “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.” Jesus did not make an ordinary interpretation to this law. He tried instead to explore the depth of the law. He tries to look for the meaning behind this law. Here, Jesus teaches us that in interpreting the law, we must look for its meaning; not simply make a debate on a mere formulation of the law. In addition, this also gives us an idea that the commission of a crime is not the only basis for one’s guilt and sin. Even though a crime is not completed or realized, but the moment we think, contemplate and plan for it, the sin is already committed. That is why looking at a woman with lust is already a commission of adultery. |
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