10th Week of OT 2020 - Wednesday - Beatitudes of Christ and Law of Moses

We continue to read from the Lord’s great Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew. The Lord, remember, began his sermon with the Beatitudes. Like Moses atop Mount Sinai communicating the law of God to the Israelites, the Lord, atop the mount of Beatitudes delivered a set of new commandments for his disciples: we must become poor of spirit, we must mourn our sins, we must become pure of heart, we must hunger and thirst for righteousness, we must be willing to be persecuted for the Gospel.

After delivering these new commandments, the Lord, just a few verses later, explains the relationship of his teachings with the commandments delivered by Moses. As we heard today, he says, I’ve not come to do away with the Law, but to fulfill the Law. The beatitudes do not replace the law of Moses, they are added to it in a sense.

Christian disciples will need to keep the tenets of the moral law, the 10 commandments and such, in order to remain in right relationship with God. But then, we must also keep the beatitudes and all the teachings of the Lord, and all of his authoritative interpretation of the Old Law, so we may become salt of the earth and light for the world, as we heard yesterday. Our inner conformity and outward activity must set an example for non-believers, for little ones, for children, neophytes, and those weak of faith.

It is amazing how the Lord connects our duty to God and our duty to our neighbor. We have a duty to God to follow these commandments, a duty to the Lord to strive to live out the beatitudes, and in doing so, we point our neighbor to a deeper love of God. When we fail in our duty to keep the commandments, we are also, in a sense failing our neighbor. And when we fail to love our neighbor, we are failing to love our God.

But, when we do obey the commandments and teach others to do so, our Lord says, we will be great in the kingdom of heaven. We merit, through obedience and love, greater and greater shares in the divine life of God. The one who loves little will be rewarded with little, but the one who loves much will be rewarded with much.

With the Lord’s help may we truly mourn our failures to keep the commandments, and repent of them, that is to change our minds and change our hearts, that they may be conformed in all things to the mind and heart of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
- - - - - - -

That the preaching and teaching and charitable works of the Church will inspire all people to seek to practice and keep the commandments of God.

That those in public office may govern with wisdom, put an end to all political corruption, and work for a society of authentic justice and peace with special care for the most vulnerable.

For an end to oppression, racism, hatred, addiction and injustice. For the healing of all the sick.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of marriages, for all single people who strive to follow Christ, and for the grace to utilize our spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for all the poor souls in purgatory for Dennis Dentzer, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.