Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
"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."

Reflection

Jesus has come to empower us to live under the law, infused with the law. And he's not talking about the Mosaic law of 613 different rules and regulations. He's talking about the Ten Commandments, which are reduced to the most beautiful explanation that it's all about loving God and loving our neighbor. And he's just simply saying, the kingdom of heaven is made up with those who can make a distinction between regulations that are not really about relationships.

Relationships are the heart of what Jesus has come to transform.

Closing Prayer

Father, we live in a sea of things that are asked of us, rules and regulations we follow for all kinds of reasons, but help us always to focus on one law, the law of love. That's the most essential. That's the one that you've called us to live. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.