Grace and Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-19

Reflection: For a good teacher of the Christian faith, it is always a jugglery to balance their teaching between the law of grace and faith?

With the Christian being hammered by the word that justification is only through faith one begins to wonder what happens to the law, which Christ Jesus gives so much of importance in this passage of Scripture:

“For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”  (vs. 18)

Matthew is writing to a community that is predominantly Jewish converts who hold the law in high esteem.  

This doesn’t mean that in seeking to write to this community that Matthew has put words in the mouth of Jesus, but rather Matthew may have tailor made the teachings of Jesus to an audience that needs it.

As means for salvation, the law, as prescribed, has no value in itself in the new order of Salvation set forth by Christ.

If the diligent practice of the law saved the Israelite then in the new order set forth by Christ Jesus we are saved by faith through grace. 

Jesus Christ, who came to free us from the yoke of slavery to the law, clearly clarifies the importance of the law for himself so as to fulfill its demands, as a demand set forth by God and thus to become our savior by fulfilling every demand of it perfectly.

Then do we abrogate the law as useless? No, it is the law with its demands, which had the power over us  and which could still have the power over us if we submit to it wholeheartedly, which is useless.

In the new order set forth by Christ we live in the greater freedom of Christ's Spirit, in which we rise above the law that subjugates and kills and submit ourselves to the life giving spirit, Jesus Christ who saves.

To live by the Spirit means to live a life of much more perfection than what the law required and what is more the grace of the Holy Spirit assists us in our walk as Christians to lead a noble and dedicated life in Christ Jesus.

For a Christian the knowledge of the law is an aid in knowing the mind of the Spirit of God, who is far greater than the law he has given.

Prayer: Lord you have promised to pour out your Holy Spirit into our hearts and cause us to walk in your ways. (cfr. Ez. 36:27) 

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