HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT.
THEME: I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them.
BY: Fr. Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20
Matthew 5:17-19
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
PURPLE
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
The first reading shows us that the people of Israel understood their laws as a great gift from God given through Moses. For the people of Israel, their laws embodied a great wisdom and they traced out a path that was well worth taking because it would bring life to oneself and to others.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
Jesus in today’s gospel says that: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfil,”
But what kind of law does Jesus refer to in today’s gospel? The Law that our Lord refers to is the Law that Moses received from Mt. Sinai _(10 commandments)_ . It applies also to the first books of the Old Testament _(The Pentateuch)_ . For the Jews, the Law is the complete and precise expression of God’s will; a complete and secure guide of conduct which govern the moral, religious and secular life of Israelites. The law is also used to describe the scribal law which Jesus often condemns, because it places burdens on people which God has not intended. However, Jesus makes it very clear that the essence of God’s law which is His commandments and way of life must be fulfilled.
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*CONCLUSION*
God has presented His Law before us and He has also given us the Wisdom and the opportunities to discern what we are going to do with our lives. He has given us His patient guidance and help so that hopefully we may realise the folly of our evil and sinful ways, and that hopefully we may find our way back once again to His loving embrace, by His grace and mercy. This season of Lent is particularly good time for us to realise this and to reflect on our way of life and on our actions so that hopefully we will not continue to walk down the wrong path.
*BLESSING OF THE DAY*
May the Lord continue to bless and guide us in our path this Lent, so that we may have a most fruitful season and time to reconnect with God, to obey His Law and commandments with vigour and zeal. Amen.
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