Fulfilling the law of love

 

Sunday 15 February 2026

 Lectio Divina:*

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

Psalm 118 (119):1-34

1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37

 

Meditatio:

“Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’ (Matthew 5:37)

Commentary:

Following the opening of the Sermon on the Mount with the eight Beatitudes, Matthew now presents Jesus’ elaboration of the Law of the Gospel. The “New Law” is not, strictly speaking, different from the “Old Law.” The Law is — and always has been — the Law of Love: to love God with all our heart and mind, and to love the person beside us as ourselves. This Law must be written on our hearts by its Author, who sent His Son to show us what love truly entails.

Love is in the air

 

Its spring here in the Northern Hemisphere.  The daffodils are budding everywhere.  Dashes of white snow drops appeared weeks ago already.

We do not presume

 

In the ‘sixth movement’ of the mass, a casual and routine approach to the reception of Holy Communion is something that we should guard against.  The best way to prepare for this sacred moment of the liturgy is to live our lives – as best as we can – according to the values of the Gospel we hear and read regularly.   Then we need to approach the sacrament not with an attitude of entitlement or presumption or indeed despair but an attitude of trust, gratitude, joy, humility and openness.  Holy communion is pure gift.  We receive rather take the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  This is why, if given  the choice and if it were customary to do so, I would rather receive on my knees and on the tongue as is still the case in Eastern Catholic churches.

Abandoned

 

In the eucharist we recall the sacrifice of Jesus.  We proclaim his death and resurrection as it says in scripture. St Paul writes, ‘For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’ (1 Corinthians 11:26).

All of creation

 

There is a key moment in the mass as we move from what I call the fourth movement (offertory) to the fifth (The Great Thanksgiving or Eucharistic Prayer) when the priest declares (Common Preface III):

Thanks for the Word of God

 

Giving thanks for the Word of God is something we do almost without thinking at every celebration of the Eucharist. When the reader proclaims, “The Word of the Lord,” we answer, “Thanks be to God.” When the priest announces the Gospel, we respond, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.”

Being thankful for opportunities to show mercy

 

In approaching mass we give thanks for all the people whom we have encountered so far in life. These include, also, people who have vexed us, hurt us or harmed us in any way. We seek the good for them and healing and forgiveness. At the same time we ask for forgiveness from God for those times that we have vexed, hurt or harmed others knowingly or not. It might be feasible to seek forgiveness even before we approach the altar. Such is the sacrifice that is demanded of us who paid the ultimate sacrifice for everyone.

Let us be thankful for everyone including those we have found most difficult. Every person, every situation and every suffering can be turned to good by the good Lord who knows how to write straight on crooked lines.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)