Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 10th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, June 8th, 2022
Texts: 1 Kings 18:20-39; Psalm 16: 1 -2a.4.5.8.11; Matthew 5: 17-19
Law came into force because of sins. Hence, Paul says, “Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Rom. 7:7). The law does not create sin but reveal it and condemn it. Law is fulfilled at the moment we have victory over sin by doing the right thing, being virtuous. This is clear in the words of Paul: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things” (Gal. 5:22-23). Those virtues mentioned by Paul fulfil the law. Paul put this in different forms: 1. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Rom. 13:8; cf. Rom. 13: 10); 2. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). Jesus, Himself, says, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7: 12). We can now understand what Jesus Christ means when He says, in today’s gospel reading, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” It means He has come to inaugurate the reign of love. John, in his letter, says, “God is love” (1 John 4:16).
Being the disciples of Jesus Christ, we have to fulfil the commandments. Hence, He says, “Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” In fulfilling these commandments we are not to do them alone, we are to teach them to others. What this means is that as we work for our own salvation, we are to be concerned about the salvation of others. We fulfil the commandments when we love not only ourselves but the other persons, when we could bear one another’s burdens. We are to teach the commandments to others, that they might be saved too.
Elijah was a person who did the commandments of God and worked to make the people of his time do them. The miracle he performed was to convince the people that the Lord is God. He says, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” By the miracle the Lord revealed Himself as God. They would also know that Elijah was the servant of the Lord. The people needed to know that Elijah was the servant of God so that they might follow him and believe the messages from him. The miracle was to convince the people that Elijah acted at God’s word, His command. It shows that Elijah did the commandments of God. The miracle was meant to turn the hearts of the people to God. Elijah did not do the commandments of God alone, he also made people do them. In our pursuit of heaven we also have to do the commandments of God and teach them to others.
Lord, our God, we thank you for the gift of your commandments, grant us the grace to fulfil them that we might gain heaven. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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