Newsletter Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 15th February 2026
- Fr Doug
- 1d
- 3 min read
GOSPEL REFLECTION
Our Lord didn’t come to change or “abolish” the law (the Old Testament Law) but He came to complete or fulfil it.
The Old Testament Law is You shall not… i.e. You shall ‘not’ kill.
You shall ‘not’ commit adultery. You shall ‘not’ bear false witness, etc.
Jesus now teaches it is not enough to try not to break the law, we must try to achieve its perfection.
Hence, Jesus said (Mt 5:48): “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and be holy as I am holy.”
For example, in today’s Gospel Jesus says: “You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors you shall not kill but I say to you anyone who is ‘angry’ with his brother will answer for it.”
Also in the Jewish Law, God commanded: “Love your neighbours but hate your enemies. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
On the Cross Jesus loved His enemies. He died for the ones who nailed Him.
Our Lord said (Matt 20, 28) “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and be a ransom for many.”
Another example in today’s Gospel:
Jesus said: “You have learnt how it was said: “You shall not commit adultery,” but, Jesus said: “If a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery.”
Our minds are called to be as chaste as Out Lord’s mind.
The widow’s mite is another example.
The Old Testament Law says give ten percent of one’s income to the Temple treasury, but Jesus honoured a widow who gave all she had to the Temple treasury. And to the rich young man Jesus didn’t say give ten percent, He said: “sell everything you have…then come follow Me.”
EXTRA:
The Old Law teaches that we should pray every day, but Jesus said, “pray always,” or as St Paul said: “Rejoice always, pray ‘constantly,’ give thanks in all circumstances.”
Our Lord was not a minimalist.
He didn’t just give the minimum. He gave everything.
A Jew once asked Jesus: “What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in You?
Our Fathers had manna bread to eat in the desert.”
Jesus answered: “I am the Bread of Life.
He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has life everlasting.”
In the Old Covenant God was content to feed the people with nourishment that lasted finitely or temporarily. The manna bread in the desert.
In the New Covenant God feeds us with Himself (in Holy Communion).
Bl Dina Belanger is an inspiration.
She died in Canada in 1929.
She became a Religious Sister – Sr Mary Cecile.
She wrote: “I committed myself, under pain of sin, to do constantly, what was not perfect. I promised not to entertain any useless thought not to allow myself any useless physical movement.
This vow affects every second, every moment of my life.
Yes, I am happy, because my happiness lies not in the events that take place, but in God alone. I live in the heart of God. I have abandoned myself completely, to the action of the Blessed Trinity within me.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of abolishing the law.
Jesus didn’t abolish or change the Law, He fulfilled the law by becoming the personification of the law,
As St John the Apostle wrote, Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Jesus is the living Word.
Comments