THE SMALLEST LETTER

Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9; Ps 147 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem; Matthew 5:17-19

We hear these words in today's gospel for this wed March 2, "I have come not to abolish but fulfill…not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all these things have taken place…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teachers others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."


How often in our life do we look for a way out of our commitment to Christ?  How often do we figure in our minds a way to the least rather than the most?  How often do we look to minimize our action of faithfulness rather than maximize it?

I think Jesus is getting at this reality in the human heart with the words of today's gospel.

When jesus speaks of not the smallest letter or the smallest part of the letter, he simply reminds us that just as the alphabet is incomplete with a letter or part of a letter missing so is love incomplete when we neglect the little things in life.

Jesus wants love to be at its best.  Jesus wants love to reach its completion.  This is what his grace does in our life.

Imagine our love finally reaching its maximum potential!

We need to keep our eyes peeled for opportunity to animate our life of faith.  We need to look for a way in to a deeper commitment to Christ not a way out that excuses ourselves of that opportunity to let love finally be complete.

Love like the alphabet needs even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter for completion.

This is the joy of following in the footsteps of Christ.

Imagine love finally being free in and through us.  Imagine God's love freely working in and through us  daily.