Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets

February 12, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Matt. 5:17-37

There is a saying that goes: “The minimum demand of love is justice; the minimum demand of justice is the law. That means that when one is failing to love at least he must know how to render justice; and if he is failing to show justice at least he observes the law as the law provides order.”

In the Gospel, Jesus explains: “Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the prophets. I have come not to annul them but to fulfill them (v. 17).” If Jesus feels the need to clarify his position, it means that someone had the impression that he is demolishing some beliefs, expectations and hopes of Israel.

Jesus was respectful of the law and institutions of his people. He interpreted them in the original way. His point of reference was not the letter of the precept, but the true spirit of love, of God.  Jesus observed that the Jewish leaders were giving more importance to the observance of the external law that they failed to show justice much less love.

Recall in Mark 7:1-13, that when Jesus’ disciples were accused by the Scribes and Pharisees of eating meal without washing, Jesus called their attention telling them: “…you put aside the commandment of God (which is love) to hold fast to human tradition.”

For Jesus, love must be the motivation of every action. In fact, he showed that with a personal touch so that everyone he touched would get healed and would start a new meaningful life, the way of love.

We too are called by Jesus to put love first before anything else. For when we truly love we can never be wrong. The love we live and show can inspire people, can heal them, and lead them to Jesus. Let us not fail to love as love is the true mark of Jesus’ disciple.