March 2, 2005

Fulfillment of the Word Mt 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."

In many parts of the story of Jesus there is a corresponding story in the Hebrew Bible that is fulfilled by Jesus. It is a part of the mystery and wonder of the salvation story of a people. The history, the land, the customs, the events all speak of the divine presence and the saving mercy and love of God. Our lived history is entertwined with the mystery of our faith and belief in a God who saves. As I read and reread the Bible I continue to be amazed at the multitude of connections and how the life of Jesus fulfilled so many of the earlier prophecies.