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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Gospel text (Mt 5:17-19): Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place (...).”

Jesus didn’t come to abolish Moses’ law but to fulfil it entirely

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, Jesus professes before the Jews His complete respect for “Moses’ Law”. This declaration is opportune as the Lord surprised them, not behaving as a mere interpreter of Moses, but surpassing him by taking that Law to its highest perfection, placing Himself above it as its own source (God).

The Messiah was expected to bring a “new Torah”. The messianic innovation contained the universalization of the people of God and thanks to it Israel can now embrace all peoples of the world, and the God of Israel – the only true God – has been taken to all the nations (as it had been promised). “Flesh” (the physical lineage of Abraham) is no longer decisive, but the “spirit”: participating in the heirloom of faith and in the life of Israel through the communion with Jesus Christ who “spiritualizes” the Law converting it in a way of life open to everyone.

- Through His Gospel Jesus speaks in a new and unceasing way to Israel… and to all of us!