Jesus was not a Destructive Rebel.

He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.

Jesus fulfilled the Law by elevating outward compliance to

an inward reality rooted in sacrificial love.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Kings 18:20-39*

So Ahab sent for

All the people of Israel and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah addressed the people and asked,

"How long will you follow two ways at the same time? If Yahweh is God, follow him;

but if Baal is God then follow him." The people remained silent.

 

So Elijah continued, "I am the only prophet of Yahweh left here to face Baal's four hundred and fifty prophets. Get us two bulls.

Let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood; and I will do the same with the other bull.

But we will not set it on fire. Then you shall call on the name of your gods while I shall call on the name of Yahweh.

The God who answers with fire is the true one." Then the people answered, "That is right."

Then Elijah told the prophets of Baal, "Choose for your-selves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many. (...)

But there was no voice; and no one answered them while they went on, dancing on one foot around the altar they had built.

 

By noontime, Elijah began to mock them, "Shout out louder. Baal is a busy god (...) So they shouted louder (...)

But still there was no voice. (...) Then Elijah said to the people, "Draw closer to me," and the people drew closer to him.

He then repaired the altar of Yahweh which had been thrown down. (...)

When the time of the evening offering came, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Yahweh, God of Abraham,

Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel; (...)

Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, together with the wood,

the stones also, and the dust; the water also dried up in the trench.

All the people witnessed this. Then they fell on their faces and said, "Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!"

 

Ps 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab, 8, 11

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 5:17-19

Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the prophets. I have not come to annul them,

but to fulfill them. I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change,

until all is fulfilled. So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments,

and teaches others to do the same, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.

On the other hand, whoever obeys them, and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

He intends to restore the Law of God.

Jesus is neither a rebel who destroys everything that precedes him nor a charismatic guru who believes he is always right.

He places himself in deep and faithful continuity with Israel's most authentic religious experience,

drawing inspiration from the very experience of God, the Father.

 

To those who accuse him of contradicting the Law and positioning himself above tradition, Jesus responds firmly:

they are the ones who have placed themselves outside the Law, inventing precepts derived from human tradition.

Jesus clearly distinguishes between what comes from God's revelation and what is derived from human experience.

Therefore, he intends to restore the Law of God to its origins, allowing opinions and customs developed over the centuries

to be recognized for what they are: healthy and beautiful practices that should not be elevated to the status of the divine Word.

 

We often confuse the distinct levels within our Church and communities: the Gospel represents one aspect,

while the views of parish priests represent another. The two-thousand-year history of the Church is one consideration,

while the styles adopted by various ecclesial groups constitute another.

We need to appropriately weigh the matters of God against those concerning the human person.