Daily Readings - Wed Jun 14 2023
2 Corinthians
4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.6He has made us competent as 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 that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
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.18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19Anyone who breaks 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 practices and teaches these commands 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.