Daily Readings - Wed Jun 14 2017

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 3.4-11

⁴And we have such faith, through Christ, toward God⁵It is not that we are adequate to think anything of ourselves, as if anything was from us. But our adequacy is from God⁶And he has made us suitable ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life⁷But if the ministration of death, engraved with letters upon stones, was in glory, (so much so that the sons of Israel were not able to gaze intently upon the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance) even though this ministration was ineffective⁸how could the ministration of the Spirit not be in greater glory⁹For if the ministration of condemnation is with glory, so much more is the ministration of justice abundant in glory¹⁰And neither was it glorified by means of an excellent glory, though it was made illustrious in its own way¹¹For if even what was temporary has its glory, then what is lasting has an even greater glory

Gospel - Matthew 5.17-19

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹⁷Do not think that I have come to loosen the law or the prophets. I have not come to loosen, but to fulfill¹⁸Amen I say to you, certainly, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one dot shall pass away from the law, until all is done¹⁹Therefore, whoever will have loosened one of the least of these commandments, and have taught men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever will have done and taught these, such a one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter a profound dialogue between the Old Covenant and the New, as illuminated by the Spirit. The passage from 2 Corinthians reminds us that our adequacy comes from God, highlighting the contrast between the letter of the law, which brings death, and the Spirit, which imparts life. Paul emphasizes that the ministry of the Spirit surpasses the old in glory, for while the old covenant had its glory, the new covenant in Christ shines even brighter. In the Gospel, Jesus affirms that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He underscores the enduring nature of the law, down to the smallest detail, until all is accomplished. Jesus warns against loosening the commandments, teaching us that true greatness in the kingdom comes from practicing and upholding the law. These readings intertwine beautifully, revealing that the law, fulfilled in Christ, is brought to life by the Spirit. The law is not merely a set of rules but a guidepost for living a life of love and grace. As we navigate our daily lives, let us seek to live not by the letter, which constrains, but by the Spirit, which liberates. In doing so, we embody the law in its fullest sense, allowing the Spirit to transform our hearts and actions. The moral lesson here is clear: a Spirit-filled life transcends mere rule-keeping, inviting us to embrace God's will with love and grace.