10 March 2021 – Wednesday of 3rd week of Lent – Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19

       God’s law is the basic theme of today’s readings.  In Deuteronomy, Moses speaks about the law that God is asking the people to respect and observe.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains that he is not there to tear down the law and the prophets, but rather to fulfill them.  We don’t hear people talking about God’s laws very much in today’s modern world, do we?  We hear a lot about secular justice, about the politically correct thing to do, about not wanting to offend anyone, and about not limiting someone’s freedom to do what he wants to do in life.  But we don’t hear a lot about the content of God’s law, of what he is asking us to do. 

       I find it interest that we who serve in ministry in Catholic and Protestant churches often talk about what we see in society today when we get together.  I have been in ministerial associations of pastors in the areas where I have served in Yazoo City, Tupelo, and now in Pearl, and I have found that to be the case.  Society seems to be turning its back on God in different ways and going in a different direction.  We see this during the pandemic as well.  Church in California successfully brought a case against the California governor before the Supreme Court, alleging that while he has broadly close down churches, sporting events, liquor stores, retail establishments and other such secular institutions have been treated differently. A majority of the justices agreed with those churches bring forth this case.  With many of the faithful not coming to Mass now on a regular basis during the pandemic, we as a Church want to reach out to society and to draw people back into our fold.  However, we are also called to embrace God’s law and to proclaim it to the world as well.  God is love and mercy, for sure, but out of that love and mercy God asks for our obedience.  God expects a certain standard of conduct from us as well.

         Many parishes will be having their Lenten reconciliation services even in the midst of the pandemic.  I went out to St Joseph school in Madison yesterday and will go out today to her the confessions of the students, along with other priests from the Jackson area.  Our Church asks us to go at least once a year to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation.  We are to examine our consciences in the light of God’s laws and commandments, and to confess our sins before our God.  Let us take this obligation very seriously in the context of today’s readings.