10 June, Wednesday — Decide to follow God…all in.

Wednesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs 18:20-39
Mt 5:17-19

If the Lord is God, follow Him…

Today, as we reflect on the gospel reading of Matthew, it is important that we look at the context of the verses just before Matthew 5:17. Right at the beginning of Chapter Five, Jesus begins his instruction and establishes the Beatitudes. It is, in fact, the longest, continuous teaching discourse in the New Testament. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus establishes how we are to live on this earth with the right attitude and virtues, and how we are called to be the salt and light of the world. Jesus clarifies that the Beatitudes, the call to be the salt and light of the earth, does not replace the teachings of the laws, nor negates any of the prophets. Indeed, I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17).

I think Jesus needed to make clear that God’s word in the Old Testament still held true then and holds true now, today. Jesus did not intend to say that the prophets’ words were untrue or no longer necessary; but Jesus, ever merciful, was showing us that observing the commandments had to be done with the right interior disposition. 

‘Honour your father and mother’ is a commandment that some might struggle with if their parents failed to fulfil their duties to raise, love and nurture them. Yet, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7), Jesus gave us the Beatitudes so that we can still fulfil the law with complete truth and not outward farce. It is not for us to break any commandment and, by our behaviour, encourage others to do the same.

There are no shortcuts, no hacks nor easier ways to the Father. He gave us all the instructions because we simply cannot do anything without His grace; and that is the beauty of the Bible in its totality – both the Old and New Testament. Everything matters, every detail written in the Bible has a meaning and significance — His Word is what we must follow.

Days when I struggle with difficult situations and challenges in my life, the Beatitudes comfort and reassure me, but I know that it doesn’t give me any excuse not to observe the commandments to love and forgive.

It moves our faith from mere outward compliance to internal integrity and wholehearted love.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, if we truly believe that the Lord is God, then we have to follow him. That means the commandments He gave us and the Beatitudes He blessed us with. We do not get to pick and choose what’s easy, convenient or relevant to our times and place. We cannot be like the Israelites that Elijah was speaking to in the first reading — being of two opinions.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Julia Lim)

Prayer: Lord, you are God and may we who are your believers truly follow you in word and deed. Grant us the grace to faithfully follow your commandments, never limping between two different opinions. May our lives reflect the joy of following Christ and may we honour even the smallest expressions of your truth today.

Thanksgiving: Jesus, thank you for the fulfilled law that only you could bring to completion. You came to fulfil every stroke and letter written by the prophets. Help us not to look for loopholes or excuses, but to pursue a righteousness that flows from love, gratitude, and a transformed heart.