Beginning Of The Presentation Of The New Law

"Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the prophets.  I have not come to annul them, but to fulfill them.  I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change, until all is fulfilled.

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  On the other hand, whoever obeys them, and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19 

(Here begins the presentation of the New Law.  It is far from what is often sought in a religion: practices to observe, fasts, prayers, good works with which one wins salvation.  JESUS says little about this because Scripture has dealt at length with this subject, and the study of Scripture itself shows that these laws and practices are always linked to a certain culture, and have to be adapted to the times.

Law: At times this word indicates the whole religion of Israel.  The law and the prophets: was a way of indicating the whole Scriptures.

Not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change until all is fulfilled.  JESUS does not refer to the commandments.  Rather HE affirms that the religion founded on the Old Testament's Scripture was a temporary, yet necessary step in the history of salvation.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled; the rites and sacrifices of that religion expressed in a veiled manner the mystery of sin and mercy that would be fulfilled in the person and the work of JESUS.  With HIM comes the perfect and definitive fellowship of GOD with humankind.

For us as well, observing the laws of the Scriptures is not an end in itself.  They are an expression of real love and are its guidelines.  In obeying them we become receptive to the Spirit who will lead us.  In this way we discover a "righteousness" or perfection far superior to the canonists of the time: the Lawyers and  the Pharisees.)

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Daniel Refuses To Do What GOD Condemns

"Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud:

Blessed and worthy of praise are YOU,

O LORD GOD of our fathers!

YOUR name is glorious forever!

Justice is in all that YOU do;

YOUR acts are faultless, YOUR ways are right,

YOUR judgments always true.

YOU have indeed given a just sentence in bringing evil upon us and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our fathers.  YOU have acted in accordance with truth and justice, as punishment for our sins.

For we have sinned and acted perversely by deserting YOU.  We have sinned gravely in everything and have not listened to YOUR commandments.  We have not observed them, and we have not fulfilled everything YOU commanded us for our good,

All the evils YOU have brought upon us, all that YOU have done to us, YOU have done according to YOUR just sentence.

YOU have given us into the hands of our enemies, lawless people, the worst of the impious, into the hands of an unjust king, the most perverse in all the world.

And today, we cannot even open our mouths; shame and humiliation have overcome those who serve and worship YOU.

Do not abandon us forever, do not reject YOUR Covenant for YOUR name's sake.

Do not withdraw YOUR mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, YOUR friend, of Isaac, YOUR servant, of Israel, YOUR holy one, to whom YOU promised to multiply their race as the stars of heaven and the sand on the shore of the sea.

LORD, see, we have become the least among the nations in all the world, and we are humiliated because of our sins.

At this time, we no longer have a king, or prophet, or leader.  We cannot offer YOU holocausts, sacrifices, offerings, or incense.  We have no place to present to YOU the first fruits of our crops, and so obtain YOUR favor.

But at least when we present ourselves with a contrite soul and humbled spirit may we then be acceptable to YOU, more than by offerings of rams and calves as holocausts, and of thousands of fat lambs.

May this sacrifice of ours today obtain for us YOUR favor, for we know that those who trust in YOU shall never be disappointed.

And now, we serve YOU with our whole heart, we fear YOU and we seek YOUR face.  Do not leave us in our humiliation, but treat us according to YOUR kindness and YOUR great mercy.  Free us, in keeping with YOUR wonders, and give us the glory of YOUR name, LORD." - Daniel 3:25-43 

(Daniel's prayer teaches the persecuted Jews what they must say to GOD: "LORD, remember YOUR promises and forget our sins.  Have compassion on YOUR humiliated people and come to save us,"

Even though GOD works a miracle in this story, history records that many martyrs did not escape death.  According to the Letter to the Hebrews 11:39, those martyrs were not granted the gift of seeing the fulfillment of GOD's promises: GOD brought them to a better destiny after their death.  So, Daniel is a model for believers when, in certain circumstances, they find themselves alone before a hostile crowd or tyrannical power.  Daniel refuses to do what GOD condemns.)

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Why The People Of Nazareth Rejected JESUS?

"JESUS added, 'No prophet is honored in his own country.  Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land.  Yet, Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon.  There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.'

On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant.  They rose up and brought HIM out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw HIM down the cliff.  But HE passed through their midst and went HIS way." - Luke 4:24-30 

(Then Luke explains why the people of Nazareth rejected JESUS:

- First, because of their pride: a stranger easily dazzles us, but we fiercely deny that one of us could stand out or be our teacher: who is this but Joseph's Son?

- Secondly, because of their selfishness: they do not agree that GOD's benefits should be shared with others.  So JESUS reminds them that the prophets of old did not limit their favors to their compatriots alone [see 1 Kings 17:7 and 2 Kings 5].)

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Water From The Rock

"But the people thirsted for water here and grumbled against Moses, 'Why did you make us leave Egypt to have us die of thirst with our children and our cattle?'

So Moses cried to YAHWEH, 'What shall I do with the people?  They are almost ready to stone me!'  YAHWEH said to Moses, 'Go ahead of the people and take with you the elders of Israel.  Take with you the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  I will stand there before you on the rock at Horeb.  You will strike the rock and water will flow from it and the people will drink.'  Moses did this in the presence of the elders of Israel.

The place was called Massah and Meribah because of the complaints of the Israelites, who tested YAHWEH saying, 'Is YAHWEH with us or not?'" - Exodus 17:3-7 

(GOD puts Israel to the test in the desert.  For how long will these common people be willing to follow an uncommon destiny?  How far will their faith go?  Israel also tempts GOD, that is, they ask HIM for signs because they do not have total confidence in HIM.  They demand miracles: "If YOU are with us, show it, here and now."

Scripture recalls this confrontation in the event of the water coming out of the rock.  Moses, too, was put to the test in this place; see the same event related in Numbers 20.

In later times, the Jewish tradition saw in this rock a figure of GOD, the fountain of life, who was present among HIS people; the miraculous rock which accompanied them in their wanderings [see 1 Corinthians 10:4].  GOD is the impenetrable Rock that retains its secret until it allows itself to be wounded and from its own wound life pours forth.  Let us understand that humankind, being sinful, loses real knowledge of GOD and for this reason cannot find HIM.  But GOD becomes weak in the person of JESUS who, on dying, reveals the secret of GOD's love and compassion for us.  The Gospel emphasizes that from the heart of JESUS, wounded by the lance, flowed forth blood and water, an image of the Holy Spirit [John 7:37 and 19:34].)

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GOD Is A FATHER Full Of Mercy

"Praise YAHWEH, my soul; all my being, praise HIS holy name!

Praise YAHWEH, my soul, and do not forget all HIS kindness; HE forgives all your sins and heals all your sickness; HE redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with love and compassion; HE gives fulfillment to your years, and renews your youth like the eagle's.

YAHWEH restores justice and secures the rights of the oppressed.

HE has made known HIS ways to Moses; and HIS deeds, to the people of Israel.

YAHWEH is gracious and merciful, abounding in love and slow to anger; HE will not always scold nor will HE be angry forever.  HE does not treat us according to our sins, nor does HE punish us as we deserve.

As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is HIS love for those fearing HIM; as far as the east is from the west, so far does HE remove from us our sins.

- Psalm 103:1-12

(The Christian lives joyfully in the paradox that our GOD is higher than the heavens, and yet, is close to us in love and mercy.  Our gratitude for HIS mercy merges naturally into a hymn of praise, for HIS greatness.  When we think how great HE is, it is not to think how far away HE is, but how much HE loves us to come down to us.

GOD is a FATHER full of mercy.  Is it necessary to quote a text from the New Testament?  A good one is that of the prodigal son [Luke 15:11-32] or the prayer of JESUS on the cross [Luke 23:34 or Romans 8:31-34].  They show us the depth of GOD's love, mercy and forgiveness.  Let us praise the LORD, together with everything created:  in moments of joy, as well as in hours of sadness, both when we have strength or when we live in fragility.)

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The Stone Which The Builders Rejected Has Become The Cornerstone

"Listen to another example: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and then, went to a distant country.  When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest.  But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Again, the owner sent more servants; but they were treated in the same way.

Finally, he sent his son, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they thought, 'This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard.  Let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.'  So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?'  They said to him, 'He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others, who will pay him  in due time.'

And JESUS replied, 'Have you never read what the Scriptures say?  The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This was the LORD's doing, and we marvel at it.  Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you, and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

(Whoever falls on this stone, he will be broken to pieces; on whomsoever this stone falls, he will be grounded to dust.)'

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that JESUS was referring to them.  They would have arrested HIM, but they were afraid of the crowd, who regarded HIM as a prophet." - Matthew 21:33-46 

(In this comparison, the vine represents the kingdom of GOD.  The Jews were GOD's people and they came to consider that their own interests were those of GOD.  HE had to help them against others.  They had confidence that they would be saved and were not concerned about the fate of others who did not recognize GOD.

GOD entrusted HIS kingdom to them; in other words, HE guided them throughout the long span of their history, so that they would be an example to others.  They were to communicate their experience to others so that all would develop justice, a spirit of responsibility, a sense of community; these were the fruit GOD wanted to harvest.

GOD sent prophets to remind them of their debt: they were scarcely heard.  Finally, the only Son of GOD become human appears and the same thing will happen.  HE will be thrown out of the vineyard, in other words, rejected by HIS own people.  Which is why the kingdom of GOD will be given to others, to those believers converted from other nations and gathered in the Church of CHRIST.

Here ends the parable.  It could equally be applied to the Church today if it becomes a religion of one social class, or similar to the other religions, or if we do not find in the Church more obedience to GOD, more commitment to values that will save the world.  What would happen to Christian groups and their leaders if they began to feel they were the owners of the kingdom and its promises?)

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Two Ways Of Living

"Blessed is the man

who does not go where the wicked gather,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit where the scoffers sit!

Instead, he finds delight in the law of YAHWEH

and meditates day and night 

on HIS commandments.

He is like a tree beside a brook

producing its fruit in due season,

its leaves never withering.

Everything he does is a success.

But it is different with the wicked.

They are like chaff

driven away by the wind.

The wicked will not stand when judgment comes,

nor the sinners when the righteous assemble.

For YAHWEH knows the way of the righteous

but cuts off the way of the wicked."

- Psalm 1:1-6

(The sharp contrast between the virtuous and the wicked is characteristic of the Hebrew thought and its uncompromising literary expression.  The psalmist was conscious of the mixture of good and bad in himself and in others around him.  As St. Paul said much later--and he spoke for everyone--'I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it' [Romans 7:18].  Aware of this tension in ourselves, we recite this psalm with a feeling of hypocrisy.  This is no proclamation of one's own virtue but a constant self-reminder that we all have a choice.  We may never reach the extreme either of virtue or of vice, but we are at every moment making for one or the other.  It is salutary to remind ourselves what the end of each road is.  It is better still to remember that we have a powerful companion along the virtuous road, but along the wicked one, we are alone.)  

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If They Change Their Ways, I Will Then Relent And Refrain From Doing The Harm I Had Intended To Do

"This is the word of YAHWEH that came to Jeremiah: 'Go down to the potter's house and there you will hear what I have to say.' 

So I went to the potter's house and found him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was working on was spoiled in his hands, so he reworked it all over again into another pot that suits his desire.

Meanwhile YAHWEH sent me HIS word, 'People of Israel, can I not do with you what this potter does?  As clay in the potter's hand so are you in MY hands.

At times I warn a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot or destroy it.  But if they change their ways, I will then relent and refrain from doing the harm I had intended to do.

At other times I declare that a nation or kingdom will be built up and planted but then they do what displeases ME and do not listen to ME, so I decide to reverse the good deeds that I intend to do.'

And YAHWEH added, 'Now tell the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem: YAHWEH says to you, 'Listen, I AM planning to destroy you; I AM hatching a devastating plot against you!  Turn from your evil ways; rectify your conduct and your deeds.'  But you reply: 'It's no use!  We shall follow our own plans; and each one goes on obeying his stubborn heart.'" - Jeremiah 18:1-12 

(In several parts of the Scriptures, the comparison with the potter serves to show that GOD is absolute master and directs the lives of all according to HIS will: individuals as well as nations [see Isaiah 29:16 and Romans 9:20].  Here the same comparison is used to provide another teaching which complements the first: namely that we are free.

If they change their ways, I will then relent and refrain from doing the harm I had intended to do.  At any time, one can be converted and GOD will act accordingly.  There is no plan of GOD written beforehand that we have to follow, pushed to do good or evil by some fatal destiny.  GOD is continually creating us and HE achieves HIS plan for the world while renewing each day the free relation it maintains with us.  Scripture supports these two statements, that nothing escapes GOD and that we are free.)

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What Do I Care For Your Endless Sacrifices?

"Hear the warning of YAHWEH rulers of Sodom.

Listen to the word of GOD, people of Gomorrah.

'What do I care,' says YAHWEH 'for your endless sacrifices?

I am fed up with your burnt offerings, and the fat of your bulls.

The blood of fatlings, and lambs and he-goats

I abhor, when you come before ME and trample on MY courts.

Who ask you to visit ME?

I AM fed up with your oblations.

I grow sick with your incense.

Your New Moons, Sabbaths and meetings, evil with holy assemblies,

I can no longer bear.

I hate your New Moons and appointed feasts.

They burden ME.

When you stretch out your hands I will close MY eyes; 

the more you pray, the more I refuse to listen, for your hands are bloody.

Wash and make yourselves clean.

Remove from your sight the evil of your deeds.

Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good.

Seek justice and keep in line the abusers;

give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow.'

'Come,' says YAHWEH, 'let us reason together.

Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow;

though they be as crimson red, they will be white as wool.

If you will obey ME, you will eat the goods of the earth;

but if you resist and rebel, the sword will eat you instead.'

Truly YAHWEH has spoken." 

- Isaiah 1:10-20

(What do I care for your endless sacrifices?  It is characteristic of the prophets to condemn external worship that does not express a true surrender to GOD.  The sacrifices and the festivals in question here were required by the law of GOD; yet GOD says that HE detests them, because when done without proper dispositions, they are a lie [see Psalm 40:7 and 50:16, also, Matthew 5:23].

Give the fatherless their rights.  The Mosaic commandments condemned theft [Exodus 20:14].  The prophets denounce a social system which crushes the lowly.

Some people are fond of great ceremonies, others of their own devotions and prayers and still others, of doing generous and philanthropic works.  When doing this, we may be covering up the injustice we do every day.) 

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For The Measure You Give Will Be The Measure You Receive Back

"Be merciful, just as your FATHER is merciful.

Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed done, full and running over.  For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back." - Luke 6:36-38 

(Perfection for us consists in imitating the FATHER.  HE is GOD by being compassionate; HIS compassion is HIS ability to be touched by the poverty and the anguish of HIS creatures, and to lavish upon them what HE can give.  The attitude of the person who judges his brothers and sisters is the very opposite of mercy.

JESUS speaks of the way in which GOD already leads us in the present life.  A rationalist culture has often convinced us that GOD lets the laws of nature and humankind go their own way while HE remains a passive spectator, but the kingdom of GOD is the presence of GOD HIMSELF who even today has liberty to reverse all situations, even if for that purpose HE has his own time.)

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