KEEP THEM AND DO THEM…

Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9

1 “And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you. 

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 

6 Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 

7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 

8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? 

9 “Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children– 

Matthew 5:17-19

17 “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. 

18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 

19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING shed light on the need for ordinances and statutes that God has instituted and delivered to Moses. Both Moses and Aaron were the instruments of God who were tasked to lead God’s people out of Egypt away from slavery to the promised land.Ex 6:26 

In other words these men represented God as a temporal authority who engineered a battery of laws, instructions and the mode of worship to conscientize the people’s moral sense and to direct them to God in and through their worship and living practices.Moreover these legal and liturgical prescriptions required some “doing” or execution to deliver fruits of wisdom, understanding and actions that are justifiable and morally correct in guiding the people to the promised land! 

THE GOSPEL READING sees Jesus’ endorsement of the laws that Moses and Aaron instituted that were necessary so that the people may reach and live in the promised land.Duet 4:1 Typologically Jesus is the new Moses sent by the Father to fulfill the promise to deliver the people.Lk 9:30,31 Our Lord clarifies that His mission is to “fulfill” the laws which implies that He is the promised Messiah who gives effect to the laws. 

Our Lord closes the chapter of Moses and the prophet Elijah with Him being the embodiment of a “new covenant” (new testament) with laws and prescriptions that encapsulate the essence and design of God’s plan to save man and reconcile us to Him. The chosen apostles led by Simon Peter an authoritative body who were called to administer, execute and teach the new testament laws which continues to require a “doing” and execution by and with the flock so we may take possession of heaven! Our Lord did not write a book, but left us an oral Tradition that over many years were penned by some first century apostles and devoted followers of the apostles.These writings were eventually collated and promolgated as the authoritive written new covenant document by the Catholic Church after a series of councils in the fourth century.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 147:12-13,15-16,19-20

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD! 

Catholic Witness Apostolate             catholicwitnessct@gmail.com    Henry R SYLVESTER              

Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days of saints around the world.