Reflection for March 11 Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Matthew 5:17-19

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.”

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Reflection:

What is life without Jesus?

It is barren, chaotic, and without peace. And what is life without following the laws of God? It is much the same. Without Him, our lives easily lose their direction, and our hearts wander in search of meaning that the world can never truly give.

Jesus comes into our lives to make them meaningful, peaceful, and fruitful—not necessarily meaningful, peaceful, and productive in the eyes of the world, but meaningful and fruitful in His eyes. When we allow Him to guide us and when we choose to follow the laws of God, our lives begin to reflect the beauty of the purpose for which we were created.

When we break the laws of God, we also distance ourselves from the love of Jesus. Our actions reveal whether we truly follow Him or merely claim to do so. For example, if a politician presents himself publicly as a follower of Jesus, he should not violate the law by stealing money from government coffers or engaging in corruption.

Nor should he support policies that undermine the dignity of human life or disregard the needs of the poor. Otherwise, the name of Jesus may simply be used to advance a hidden agenda rather than to serve the common good.

The same principle applies to those who serve God in religious life. Priests and ministers who profess to follow Jesus are called to live lives that reflect holiness, integrity, and fidelity to the commandments of God. Their lives, like the lives of all of us who claim to follow Christ, should be a witness to the transforming power of His grace.

There is always a reward for those who follow the laws of God and remain faithful to the commandments of Jesus. The reward may not always be the one we expect, nor may it come at the time we desire. Yet we can trust that God sees our faithfulness and will bless it in His perfect way and in His perfect time.

But what about those who deliberately ignore or violate God’s laws? Eventually, they must face the consequences of their choices. In the end, justice—both human and divine—cannot be set aside forever.

As followers of Christ, we are invited each day to examine our hearts and our actions. Are we truly living according to the teachings of Jesus, or are we merely claiming His name while following our own desires?

Let us pause and ask ourselves honestly: Are our lives truly reflecting our love for Jesus through faithful obedience to His commandments or are we allowing the world to shape our choices more than the Lord who gave His life for us? —Marino J. Dasmarinas