June 10, 2009 Gospel

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Wednesday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Getulius & Comp., St Ithamar

See commentary below or click here
Melito of Sardis : "I have come not to abolish but to fulfill the Law"


Second Letter to the Corinthians 3:4-11.

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Psalms 99:5.6.7.8.9.

Exalt the LORD, our God; bow down before his footstool; holy is God!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who called on God's name; they called on the LORD, who answered them.
From the pillar of cloud God spoke to them; they kept the decrees, the law they received.
O LORD, our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God, though you punished their offenses.
Exalt the LORD, our God; bow down before his holy mountain; holy is the LORD, our God.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:17-19.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Commentary of the day :
Learnings:

"I have come not to abolish but to fulfill the Law"


The sacrifice of the lamb, the Passover rite and the letter of the Law have reached their term in Jesus Christ, in view of whom everything in the ancient Law took place – and even more so in the new dispensation. For the Law became the Word; from being old it became new...; the commandments have been transformed into grace and the foreshadowing into truth; the lamb has become the son, the sheep has become man, and man has become God...

God though he was, the Lord put on our humanity; he suffered for him who was suffering, was bound for him who was captive, was judged for the guilty, was buried for him who was buried. He was raised from the dead and cried out in a loud voice: «If anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together» (Is 50,8). It is I who delivered the condemned man; I who restored life to the dead; I who raised up those in the grave. «Who disputes my right?» It is I, he says, I who am the Christ, I who destroyed death, who triumphed over the enemy, who bound the mighty enemy and carried off man to the heights of heaven; it is I, he says, who am the Christ.

Come along then, every human family, full of sin as you are, and receive the forgiveness of your sins. For I myself am your forgiveness, I am the Passover of salvation, the lamb slain for your sakes, your redemption, life and resurrection; I am your light, your salvation and your king. It is I who lead you to the heights of heaven, I who will raise you up; it is I who will bring you to see the Father who is from all eternity; it is I who will raise you up by my all-powerful hand.