FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD
Introduction: Today's liturgy challenges us to choose freely and wisely and observe the laws and commandments of a loving and caring God. He reveals His laws to His chosen people through His prophet Moses and other Prophets of old. Through His Son Jesus, He clarifies and reveals His laws and precepts. These are not merely a set of laws but instructions to teach us holiness and wholeness from our living and loving God.
First Reading: Sirach 15: 15 to 20
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 6 to 10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 17 to 37
*First reading is from the book of Sirach. The Lord God is always good to us. He gives us the freedom to chose between good and evil. But the Lord God wants that we should always use our freedom with a sense of responsibility.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul tells the Christian community at Corinth that salvation through the cross of Christ is God's marvellous plan for the world. He gives us a future vision too: What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.
The true meaning of the Law: The Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus re-interprets the ten commandments given by God to Moses on mount Sinai. The new Moses : Jesus gives us a new vision and a new understanding of those commandments. Jesus confirms the law in its condemnation of killing. He then goes a step further in condemning the motivation that leads to such a crime: That is anger. He instructs us that reconciliation is far more important than offering sacrifices. The duty of making peace with the offended person is more urgent than the duty of giving worship to God. Jesus affirm the law that adultery is a sin. He then goes deeper by teaching us that a person looking lustfully at another person has already sinned in his/her heart. A person's sinful intentions, thoughts and dubious attitudes are equally sinful as the sin itself. Jesus gives us a distinct teaching on divorce too. The law of Moses permitted a husband to divorce his legally wedded wife. He clarifies it by saying that divorce on any such grounds is unacceptable in the eyes of the creator, except on the ground of unchastity. Expectations of Jesus from His followers are very demanding and challenging. We have to humbly accept that on our own, we cannot measure up to His standards. But be sure, that with the grace of God, we can certainly measure up to the standards set by Jesus.
Conclusion: In today's liturgy we listened to the ten commandments and Jesus' re-interpretation of them. We need to understand and appreciate the laws and commandments given by God. These are based on two basic principles: The principle of giving reverence to God and the principle of respecting other humans. In the first four commandments we give reverence to God: Reverence to His holy name, reverence to His holy day and reverence to our father and mother. The next set of commandments instructs us to respect life, one's personal integrity and a person's good name, a person's property and a person's life partner. Our obedience to these laws must be prompted by our love of God and the love of our fellow humans. Finally, to be true follower of the Lord, we need to forgive and forget and move forward with reconciliation in all aspects of our lives.
May the Lord Jesus, who leads us to have a deeper understanding of the commandments of God, bless you and strengthen you to keep His commandments in letter and spirit. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Josepha/February 15, 2026)
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