Daily Gospel Reflection

Are You Avoiding the Law?

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant, where we are exploring the genius of Catholicism, the genius of Jesus, the genius of the Gospel. And just taking a look at each day's gospel and looking for a word or a phrase, an idea that jumps out at you, that the Holy Spirit uses to focus your day, to anchor your day. Today's reading is from Matthew 5:17-19. I love chapter 5 of Matthew. Do you have a favorite chapter in the Bible? I think it might be my favorite chapter, one of my favorite chapters. Today, Matthew 5:17-19.

And this is what Jesus said: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

It would have been easy for Jesus' followers to say, "Wow, law doesn't apply to us anymore." And how often we do that, I think, in our own lives? We think, "Well, certain things don't apply to us. They apply to everyone else." And if you think you don't do that, when's the last time you were speeding? What happens when we speed? We think, "Okay, well, what I need is more important than this rule, than these laws." But then if someone else speeds past you on another day, what do you think about that person? What thoughts do you have about that person? "Oh, that person's crazy, or that person's not safe, or that person's dangerous, or that person's going to hurt people."

And so it's interesting how we decide that some rules, some laws, some things don't apply to us. Jesus is saying, "That is not the case. I didn't come to abolish the law. I'm not going to wipe all that away." And this would have been a great challenge for his followers because there were real requirements made through the rules, through the law, just as there are real requirements made of us. So the question today, how are you trying to avoid the requirements that God has of you? God bless you. Have an amazing day. Remember, don't just be yourself, be the very best version of yourself. All that God created you to.