A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

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.”

These words of Jesus refer to the law that the LORD commanded Moses to teach to the people of Israel. In the first reading, Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” Jesus came not to take the law away that the LORD had given Israel but to fulfill it. Just as the LORD told Moses to obey so that the Israelites may live, Jesus also came to give life—abundant life—so that we may enter the Kingdom of heaven. From the Gospel acclamation, we pray: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” In the natural order, life diminishes; each day is one less day on earth. But so that we may have life, as Jesus says in the Gospel according to John: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Thank you, God, for the gift of your only Son. In his fulfillment, there is nothing in the law or the prophets to be forgotten or discarded. As Moses said to the Israelites, I can say of the fullness of my faith: “However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.” Give me the grace, Lord, to be obedient to the teachings of Christ and his bride, the Church.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

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"Christ handing on the Law" flickr photo by Lawrence OP https://flickr.com/photos/paullew/5573929420 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license