Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 18:20-39; Matthew
5:17-19)
Pedro identifies himself as a catechist. He loves to teach others about the Lord and
his Church. He does not seem to have aspirations
to become a deacon. He knows that
teaching has its own distinction. Writing
to the Corinthians, St. Paul places the office of teacher third in line of
importance after apostles and prophets (I Corinthians 12:28). Jesus gives the work even greater prominence
in today’s gospel.
Jesus says that true teachers “’will be called greatest
in the kingdom of heaven.’” However, he does not extol all teachers. He criticizes those who do not teach all of
the commandments and who may disregard some of them. He is not being severe but emphasizing what
he has just pointed out. He has not come
to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them.
We may ask ourselves what commandments we disregard. Some will argue that Sunday Eucharist is not
compulsory (that is, in ordinary times).
Others may say that artificial contraception is all right. Granted, the latter commandment is not found
in Scripture. Yet we should form our
consciences according to the teaching of the Church. If we know ourselves to be weak in some
regard, we must be especially careful not to influence others in the same
way. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells of
the rewards to his faithful servants. He
also does not hesitate to name the punishments for those who ignore his
teaching.
