Daily Readings - Wed Jun 14 2017
2 Corinthians
4Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,6who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.7Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,8will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.10Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.11For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Matthew
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter a profound dialogue between the Old Covenant and the New, as illuminated by the Spirit. The passage from 2 Corinthians reminds us that our adequacy comes from God, highlighting the contrast between the letter of the law, which brings death, and the Spirit, which imparts life. Paul emphasizes that the ministry of the Spirit surpasses the old in glory, for while the old covenant had its glory, the new covenant in Christ shines even brighter.
In the Gospel, Jesus affirms that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He underscores the enduring nature of the law, down to the smallest detail, until all is accomplished. Jesus warns against loosening the commandments, teaching us that true greatness in the kingdom comes from practicing and upholding the law.
These readings intertwine beautifully, revealing that the law, fulfilled in Christ, is brought to life by the Spirit. The law is not merely a set of rules but a guidepost for living a life of love and grace. As we navigate our daily lives, let us seek to live not by the letter, which constrains, but by the Spirit, which liberates. In doing so, we embody the law in its fullest sense, allowing the Spirit to transform our hearts and actions. The moral lesson here is clear: a Spirit-filled life transcends mere rule-keeping, inviting us to embrace God's will with love and grace.