Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5, 17-37
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.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful –
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.”
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill
1. Fulfill. At times, Catholics may treat “mercy” as if it comes without limits, but it’s crucial to remember that true mercy requires “repentance” and a genuine intention to change. Recognizing this is important because personal transformation takes time—it’s a daily journey, not an overnight event. Much like practicing gymnastics, it demands ongoing effort and determination. Are you ready for this challenge, or would you rather make excuses for yourself?
2. Do not kill. In confession, I’ve sometimes heard, “Father, I’ve done everything except kill someone.” My response is, “Have you ever criticized or gossiped about someone?” If you have, you have killed with your words, so to say. Words are powerful—they can destroy a person’s reputation and dignity. Before speaking, think carefully, because restoring someone’s good name after you’ve harmed it can be extremely hard. Your words may have done real and lasting damage to another person’s life.
3. God works through you. Understand that your happiness is not controlled by those around you, nor are others responsible for complicating your life. Instead, focus on the blessings and talents God has placed within you. While some circumstances may overwhelm you, that doesn’t make you good or bad—it just means you’re human. Remember your strengths and the ways you can impact others positively. Don’t let criticism or negative opinions drag you down. Learn to accept yourself as you are and discern what God asks of you for the sake of others. When you do, you’ll see your life’s unique value, recognizing how God acts through you, and you’ll be able to let go of the weight of harmful criticism and hurtful comments, and fulfill God’s will for your life.
Always remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
