Jesus, being a good Jew, saw the “Law and the Prophets” as the true embodiment of everything that’s excellent.  The Ten Commandments embody reverence for God, His name and His Sabbath day.  They embody respect for parents, marriage, property, human rights and truth.

It is this kind of reverence and respect that Jesus came to fulfill.  However, He would do so in a new way, with a new teaching and with new authority.

By word and deed Jesus shows us what it is to respect the weak and protect the poor.  A deeper kind of holiness is expected of His followers.  Not only a crime of violence like murder is forbidden, but even the anger that is the root cause of such an act.  Not only is the act of adultery to be shunned, but even the lustful looks that are the beginnings of adultery.  Not only are false oaths to be avoided, but any words that might compromise our honesty.

The new teaching goes beyond the letter of the law to its spirit which is love.  It was only after His Passion, Death and Resurrection that they would realize that He did embody in Himself all that was excellent in the law because He was the Son of God.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to surpass the scribes and the Pharisees in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are called to strive for love everyday of the week.  Our thoughts must be  honest and full of integrity.  Our motives must be lofty and noble.  We are called as Christians to demonstrate by our actions unselfishness and love.  We are called to follow the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are called to be Christian.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell