So then, whoever breaks the least important of theseSo then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments,
and teaches others to do the same, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand,whoever obeys them, and
teaches others to do the same,will be great in the kingdom of heaven.
Reflection
What a grand spectacle of theWhat a grand spectacle of the triumph of Yahweh over Baalon Mount Carmel! The entirepeople,
who had rooted for Baal,are now converted; they evenlynched en masse the prophetsof Baal (which is so embarrassing that we
skip verse 40 betweentoday and tomorrow). However,was it a contest commissionedby Yahweh? Yahweh had asked Elijah to go
and announce rain;the farce of a contest was Elijah’swill, not God’s. The same withthe declaration of drought: ithad been Elijah’s
plan, not God’s.Elijah’s will comes first; God isforced to obey! Three years ofgreat suffering of the people andthe lynching of 450
prophets ofBaal could have been avoided if Elijah had listened to God first,than forcing God to listen to him.Even in our times,
do not Godand the world suffer becauseof the hyper-fundamentalismof the so-called defenders ofGod? The tragedy of working
for God instead of doing God’swork! (Elijah would soon learnthe lesson, as we shall see.)
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022
June 08, 2022
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19
Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the Do not think that I have come to
annul the law and theprophets. I have not come to annul them, but to fulfill them. Itell you this:
as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallestletter or dot in the law will change, until all is fulfilled.
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Daily Gospel