Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 10th Week of Ordinary Time, Year 1, June 10th, 2021
Texts: 2 Cor. 3:15-4:1.3-6; Ps. 85:9-14; Mtt. 5:20-26
Moses gave the law but its glory is veiled as Moses veiled the glory of God which was showing upon him. In today's first reading, St. Paul puts it thus: _"To this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over the minds of the Israelites"_ The law is not understood because it is veiled; it is shrouded in shallow interpretation and misinterpretation.
St. Paul tells us that the veil is lifted and removed by Jesus Christ. He puts it thus: _"but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."_ The truth is revealed in Jesus Christ; it is in Him that the veil over our understanding is lifted and removed. Jesus, with His teaching, makes the law shine forth in splendour.
Today's gospel reading shows us how Jesus lifted the veil over our understanding of the law. Jesus says, _"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool! ' shall be liable to the hell of fire."_ Jesus opened up the meaning of law to us. He shows us today that the commandment not to kill goes beyond murder to include prohibition of the root of murder such as anger, abusive words, insult, hatred etc. The commandment not to kill also prohibits abuse: emotional torture, psychological torture, physical torture, verbal abuse, neglect etc. Parents who neglect their children break the commandment not to kill.
The commandment not to kill is not only negative, it is also positive. In a positive sense it means 'Thou shall sue for peace'. The commandment not kill holds more for us than not to kill, it bids us to sue for peace always; it is a divine call to work for peace. Jesus says, " _So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.”_ Jesus Christ reveals that we have to be at peace with one another if we are to be at peace with God. He shows that the commandment not to kill is meant to establish peace and good relationship among us so that we can have good relationship with God.
When we keep the commandment, our lives are shown with glory from God and we also grow into the image of Christ. St. Paul says, _"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."_ This means in keeping the law, our lives shine in splendour; our lives become beautiful and glorious. This is because as we keep the law in Christ, we behold God face to face. The glory we talk about, here, is our godly characters: holiness, love, justice, humility, etc. Hence, that we shine in glory means our lives are adorned with virtues. Keeping the commandments of God makes us grow in virtues.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for lifting and removing the veil over our understanding of law; grant that we may be faithful to Your teaching so as to shine in splendour and become glorious and beautiful in Your sight. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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