Wednesday, June 10, 2020


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.