Daily Readings - Wed Jun 14 2017
First Reading - 2 Corinthians 3.4-11
2 Corinthians
4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Gospel - Matthew 5.17-19
Matthew
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall 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.