TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Wednesday

Year II

Readings

First Reading
1 Kgs 18:20–39

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:1b–2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11

Gospel
Mt 5:17–19

Meditation on Today’s Readings

Taken from the Vatican II Sunday and Weekday Missal
Written by Celia Sirois

The somewhat complicated distinction that Paul makes in 2 Corinthians (chap. 3) between the surpassing glory of the new covenant and the fading glory of the former one may be misleading. He seems to say that the new covenant has rendered the Mosaic law obsolete. But scholars are not so sure he meant that. For our purposes, it is enough to note the force of Jesus’ own words, reported by Matthew in today’s Gospel: “Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter…will pass from the law.”

Paul’s main concern in 2 Corinthians (chap. 3) is to defend his ministry as an apostle. His credentials have been challenged and he responds by affirming that his qualifications come from God alone. In the contest on Mount Carmel, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to give proof of their credentials, and his success shows him to be the true prophet of the Lord who alone is God. As for us, Jesus tells us that whatever credibility we have as followers of Christ lies in our fulfilling God’s commands and teaching others to do so too.

The copyright for the Sunday Missal Introductions is:
Copyright (c) 2001, Daughters of St. Paul
The copyright for the Weekday Missal Introduction is:
Copyright (c) 2002, Daughters of St. Paul