Matthew’s Gospel was probably written to speak to a Jewish Christian group of believers that was living in the Holy Land. Matthew shows Jesus as being loyal to the Jewish traditions; it shows Jesus as being the last in the great line of Jewish prophets. He is not a heretic or blasphemer, as he is often accused of being by the Pharisees. He is loyal to his Jewish faith to his very core. Jesus emphasizes today that he did not come to contradict the Jewish law, but rather he came to develop it and complete it. Jesus does not degrade or demean the law of God. Rather, he elevates it and brings it to a greater meaning. We can become so obsessed with external observances of Church laws and regulations. We can become scrupulous or fearful with regards to the Lenten promises we undertake. Recently, in a Catholic forum on the internet, I saw where someone asked if it is permissible to switch one’s penitential promises that were made at the beginning of Lent. In other words, can we promise to do one thing, but then change in the middle of Lent when it is not having its desired spiritual effect? This person mentioned that he realizes that there is value in persevering, but that he is just not making it with his Lenten promises. He mentioned that he had some very meaningful Lenten practices in previous years in prayers, reading, and sacrifices, but that this year it just feels like going through the motions. Instead, he has started working in his yard, finding fulfillment in that, lifting up that work in honor of Jesus and Mary. One person replied to this post that he did not think it was not sinful in changing his penitential acts, that creating a beautiful yard in honor of Jesus and Mary was a very wonderful Lenten action. I would agree, finding the response and the actions of the man asking the question very much in the spirit of Lent and the spirit of Jesus. Sometimes we are called to be creative and pragmatic on the road of faith. Again, we can focus too much on our exterior actions. But what is the interior change that is taking place?
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