💖 HOMILY - MARCH 11 💖

First Reading - Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9

Gospel - Matthew 5:17-19

Throughout the history of God’s people, the law has played an important role in guiding their relationship with him. Yet the law was never meant to be a burden; it was meant to be a path that leads to life. Today’s readings remind us that God’s commandments are given not to restrict us, but to help us live wisely and faithfully in his presence.

In the first reading, Moses speaks to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land. He urges them to observe the statutes and decrees that the Lord has given them. These laws are not arbitrary rules but expressions of God’s wisdom and care for his people. By living according to them, Israel will show the surrounding nations that they are a people guided by a wise and understanding God.

Moses also warns them not to forget what the Lord has done for them. Memory is important in faith. When people forget God’s works and his commandments, they easily lose their direction. That is why Moses urges them to keep these teachings in their hearts and to pass them on to their children and grandchildren. Faith must be remembered, lived, and handed on from generation to generation.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the law in a way that deepens its meaning. Some people might have thought that his teaching was meant to abolish the law of Moses, but Jesus makes it clear that he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The commandments remain important because they reveal God’s will for human life.

Yet Jesus brings the law to its fullest meaning. He shows that the commandments are not only about external actions but also about the attitudes of the heart. True obedience to God is not simply about following rules but about living in a way that reflects God’s love, justice, and faithfulness.

Jesus also teaches that even the smallest commandment should not be treated lightly. Those who keep and teach God’s commandments will be great in the kingdom of heaven. In other words, faithfulness in daily life matters. Small acts of obedience, honesty, patience, and love are part of living according to God’s will.

During Lent, these readings invite us to examine our relationship with God’s word. Do we see his commandments as burdens, or do we recognize them as guides that lead us toward life? When we listen carefully to God’s word and allow it to shape our hearts, we grow in wisdom and become witnesses of God’s presence in the world.

Like the people of Israel, we are called not only to remember God’s word but also to live it and share it with others. When our lives reflect the values of God’s kingdom, we show that his law is not simply a set of rules but a path that leads us closer to him.