SAINT TURIBIUS OF MOGROVEJO, BISHOP (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

I have come . . . to fulfill. 

Many of the Jewish religious leaders believed that Jesus was rejecting the Law of Moses. They attacked him for healing on the Sabbath and for not always observing the prescribed rituals for handwashing. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the true meaning of the Law. It was not just an outward observance but an inner change of heart. And he showed this not just by his teaching but by the way he lived.

However, that’s not all Jesus did. By his death and resurrection, he fulfilled God’s plan to save us from sin and death and empowered us with his grace to overcome temptation. Though we may still stumble, our sins don’t have to keep us separated from God; we can be forgiven and reconciled. Now when we struggle to obey the Lord’s commandments, we can call on the power of the Holy Spirit who has been poured into us. This is the kingdom Jesus ushered in, and we are blessed to have been invited into it.

What does that mean for each of us when it comes to living out the Sermon on the Mount? Not only can we not commit adultery, but we can repent, be forgiven, and be empowered by the Lord when we struggle with lustful thoughts. Not only can we refrain from murder, but we can ask for the Lord’s mercy and help when we wrestle with angry thoughts and actions of any kind. Not only can we not take revenge on those who have hurt us, but with God’s grace, we can forgive them and pray for them. This is how Jesus wants us to live and what God always intended by giving his people the Law.

So when you struggle with living this law of love, remember that Jesus has already made a way for you. He has given you the Holy Spirit so that you can go beyond the letter of the law to the very heart of it—and change your own heart in the process. And when you fail, you can repent, be forgiven, and try again. All of this is possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice of love. Today, spend some time praising the Lord for all he has done for you!

“Thank you, Jesus, for laying down your life for me so that I could live how you desire.”

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Matthew 5:17-6:1