Tuesday, June 08, 2004

2:29 am

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Ephrem, deacon, doctor of the Church

Scripture from Wednesday's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 18:20-39
Psalm 16:1-2,4-5,8,11
Matthew 5:17-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Not the smallest letter of the law ...shall be done away with
until it all comes true. (see Matthew 5:18)

Throughout salvation history God has given the world "signs" showing through His chosen people that He, the One true God, brings salvation--unity in His love and truth to a sin-fragmented world. In our first reading Elijah's loving faith and prayer to God proved that Baal's priests worshipped an idol, a mere human invention. Israel's God converted these unbelievers through a powerful sign--sending down a fierce fire consuming the sacrifice offered to Him by Elijah, reducing to dust even the altar and water surrounding it.

However, God's definitive sign of His sovereignty and boundless love was given to us in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, God Incarnate and the means to our salvation. What did Jesus mean when He said He came to "fulfill" the law? We must first understand that God's law actually expresses the truths inherent in His very Essence which is Love; the two are inseparable. Jesus came to translate this into reality. He first fulfilled the law by living it perfectly in His human body; then, in our flesh, He won God's forgiveness for us by putting man's sin to death on the cross, and finally, in rising, He offered us new life. Forgiveness, salvation and resurrection are ours if by faith in Christ we too die to our sin and live in God's self-giving love--that is, through grace, live in obedience to his law.

O Most generous Lord,
pour Your grace upon us
that we may be enabled to live perfectly in Your truth
made known to us in Your love. Amen

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)
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