Faith Daily | 15 March 2023

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p486

Lord God, our Redeemer,

who heard the cry of your people

and sent your servant Moses to lead them out of slavery:

free us from the tyranny of sin and death

and, by the leading of your Spirit,

bring us to our promised land;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 5: 17-19

17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Meredith Scott-McMahon

When I read this passage, I was immediately reminded of the verse from the reading last Sunday, John 5:24 ‘God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth’.

Jesus was very clear-sighted about the Law and the Prophets. Over time, the Pharisees had expanded the ten commandments into a vast detailed list of rules on every aspect of life that that placed as an exacting burden on the shoulders of their followers. Jesus makes it very clear that He hasn’t come to change the Law by one iota or to rewrite the Prophets, just to free them from all the layers of complexity that tied people into knots and turned their everyday lives into a nightmare of legalism.

He came with a very simple but profound message, that He Himself fulfilled the Law. Jesus foretold His death to the disciples, but he also said he would send a Counsellor who would always be with them (John 16:7). We journey through Lent to Easter, when we celebrate the Risen Christ, knowing the power of His spirit is within us, illuminating the truth and enabling us to live by it.

Every Sunday in the Eucharist we read the first and greatest commandment, and every teaching in Old Testament and the New points to this, that we love God above all else, and our neighbour as ourselves. And we don’t need to sweat over a million impossible external rules, because the Holy Spirit is our guide. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light!

FINAL PRAYER

Gracious God, help us to know You and to hear Your voice through our study, prayer, meditation, and most of all through open hearts and minds. Be our internal guide inspiring us by love as we walk closely in Your ways.

Amen