Fulfilling the law
1 Kings 18:20–39; Psalm 16; Matthew 5:17–19
Jesus says, “I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to complete them.” This shows that Jesus was not a heretic or a blasphemer. He respected the history and tradition of the people, and he expressed its continuity.
Beloved, these laws have come down to us today. Are we keeping or abolishing them? Many have abolished the laws and traditions of Christ and his church and assumed for themselves the laws and traditions. Others did not even continue with the Church of Christ; rather, they became founders of the already-founded faith.
Again, there are many laws of the body of Christ that hold true that we have abolished individually. For instance, the use of contraceptives, abortion, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), etc. These laws have been so downplayed, and the consequence is the high level of immorality in society today. Let us fulfil the law.
In the first reading? Elijah says, “If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him…”(1 Kings 18:21). This challenges us to be decisive. We cannot go on limping; we are lax and unfirm. We have to stand up for what we believe. James 1:8 says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Many of us are unstable Christians. Let us learn to be decisive.
Let us pray
O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may, at your prompting, discern what is right and, by your guidance, do it. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
