Daily Readings - Wed Jun 14 2023
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 explore the transition from the old covenant to the new, highlighting the role of the Spirit and the fulfillment of the law. The first reading from 2 Corinthians emphasizes that our adequacy comes from God, contrasting the old covenant's ministration of death with the new covenant's life-giving Spirit. Paul underscores the temporary glory of the old covenant, which pales in comparison to the lasting glory of the new, brought by the Spirit.
The Gospel from Matthew finds Jesus affirming the enduring importance of the law, clarifying that He did not come to abolish it but to fulfill it. He warns against loosening even the smallest commandment, stressing the significance of adhering to and teaching the law. This passage, part of the Sermon on the Mount, illustrates Jesus' role in bringing the law to its fullness, rooted in love and mercy.
Both readings converge on the theme of fulfillment and transformation. The new covenant, through the Spirit, doesn't discard the old but elevates it, much like Jesus fulfills the law by living it out in love. This invites us to trust in God's grace and live guided by the Spirit, understanding that our actions and teachings should reflect this fulfilled law. In daily life, this means embodying love and mercy, recognizing that our strength and guidance come from God. Let us embrace this transformation, living as ministers of the new covenant, where the Spirit leads us to greatness in the kingdom of heaven.