All the Laws?

Gospel: Matthew 5: 17-19

Today's Gospel portion is odd to us, for Jesus is telling us to obey the tiniest of laws in a tradition we have largely rejected in our practice.  Even Jesus himself found it to his advantage to violate some aspects of the law in order to heal and help others in need.  Even the most pious of Jews found it a challenge to adhere to the tiniest aspects of the law when laws came in conflict with each other - which one takes priority?  So, what are we to make of all this?

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus gave us the law in the Beatitudes.  These are the values and principles we are to use in discerning how to apply the law in our daily lives.  The values of being poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemakers, pure of heart, hungry for justice, and patient in suffering persecution - these direct all our actions and guide our discernment in how to live as God's people on earth.  

Throughout the Gospels we see Jesus apply these values to decisions he makes and actions he performs, right up to his death on the cross.  To be a disciple of Jesus is to follow his teaching and imitate his example in our own lives, discerning how to apply these values in each circumstance and situation we find ourselves encountering.