Year 36 No.

43 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) — Green February 12, 2023

The Enduring Validity of the Law

T he early Christian
communities struggled
with the question of their
come not to abolish but to
fulfill.” The implication of
this pronouncement is great,
relationship with the law for it affirms that God does
as they entered the new era not contradict himself—
inaugurated by the death giving the law at one time
and resurrection of Jesus. then sending somebody to
The evangelist Matthew tried abolish it at another time.
to settle this issue for his God’s intention is consistent
own community by showing from the beginning. The law
them how Jesus viewed the traces out the path of love
law and understood his role Sr. Bernardita and fidelity for his covenant-
in relation to it. Dianzon, FSP partner Israel.
In his inaugural address, The claim of Jesus “not
the Sermon on the Mount, to abolish but to fulfil”
Jesus clearly defines his beyond the reach of ordinary is strategically placed by
relationship with the law— people. Thus, obedience Matthew before the series
“I have come not to abolish to the law, as interpreted of contrasts that come in
but to fulfill.” Thus, he by these law experts, was verses 21–48—“you have
affirms the law’s enduring reduced to mere compliance heard… but I say to you…
validity for Christians in with the letter of the law and ”—in order to dispel any
every age. attention to little details, misconception that Jesus is
The essence of the law is often to the neglect of what putting himself in opposition
love. The original intention was essential. Yet they to the law rather than
of the Lawgiver is to lead held the illusion that such setting its spirit free from
his covenant-partner Israel manner of obeying the law imprisonment in the letter.
into a loving relationship led to righteousness. This spirit, which is love,
with him, with their fellow Jesus comes from the is placed at the heart of the
human beings, and with the Lawgiver and knows fully redefined commandments.
rest of creation. But like an the Lawgiver’s intention. He Their radically intensified
ancient painter’s original alone can pierce through formulation by Jesus
masterpiece that passed the letter and formulation points to the new kind of
from one patron to another of the law and reveal its righteousness that surpasses
and was retouched by other divinely intended meaning. that of the scribes and the
hands and overlaid with Thus, he presents himself Pharisees.
paint and dust, the original as the ultimate authority Jesus, the Messiah, is the
intention of the Lawgiver and definitive interpreter of final goal of the whole law.
was obscured by the way the law. The role of Jesus In his life, teaching, passion,
it had been interpreted by can be likened to that of death, and resurrection, he
the so-called experts of the the restorer of the ancient embodies the fulfillment
law—the scribes and the painter’s masterpiece—the of the law and opens the
Pharisees. Their meticulous one who will remove the floodgates of grace that
analysis of words and layers of paint and dust and will enable believers to
formulations locked up the dirt covering the original live righteous lives and be
spirit of the law, so that its work to allow its pristine admitted into the heavenly
intended meaning was kept beauty to emerge. “I have kingdom.
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES Gloria Lord; he is mighty in power,
and all-seeing. The eyes of God
Glory to God in the highest, are on those who fear him; he
Entrance Antiphon
(Ps 31 [30]:3–4) and on earth peace to people understands man’s every deed.
(Recited when there is no opening song) of good will. We praise you, we No one does he command to
bless you, we adore you, we act unjustly, to none does he
Be my protector, O God, a glorify you, we give you thanks
mighty stronghold to save give license to sin.
for your great glory, Lord God,
me. For you are my rock, my heavenly King, O God, almighty —The word of the Lord.
stronghold! Lead me, guide Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only All—Thanks be to God.
me, for the sake of your name. Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb Responsorial Psalm (Ps 119)
Greeting of God, Son of the Father, you
(The sign of the cross is made here) take away the sins of the world, R—Blessed are they who
have mercy on us; you take away follow the law of the Lord!
P—The Lord be with you.
the sins of the world, receive
All—And with your spirit. E.J. Reyes, ssp
our prayer; you are seated at
 
D Bm
Introduction the right hand of the Father,
(These [or similar words] may be used have mercy on us. For you alone      

  
to address the assembly.) are the Holy One, you alone Blest are they who fo llow the
are the Lord, you alone are the
P—Jesus tells us today that
Most High, Jesus Christ, with 
4 G A7 D
mere external observance of  
God’s law does not make us his
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of     
God the Father. Amen.
true followers. Our observance law of the Lord.

of the divine law must spring Collect

1. Blessed are they whose way
from inner conviction. May P—Let us pray. (Pause) is blameless,/ who walk in the
our Eucharistic celebration O God, who teach us that law of the LORD./ Blessed are
make us grow in love, a love you abide in hearts that are they who observe his decrees,/
that is free, responsible, and just and true, grant that we who seek him with all their
self-giving. may be so fashioned by your heart.(R)
grace as to become a dwelling
Penitential Act 2. You have commanded that
pleasing to you.
your precepts/ be diligently
P—Brethren (brothers and Through our Lord Jesus
sisters), let us acknowledge kept./ Oh, that I might be firm
Christ, your Son, who lives
our sins, and so prepare in the ways/ of keeping your
and reigns with you in the
ourselves to celebrate the statutes! (R)
unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
sacred mysteries. (Pause) for ever and ever. 3. Be good to your servant,
All—I confess to almighty God All—Amen. that I may live/ and keep your
and to you, my brothers and words./ Open my eyes, that I
sisters, that I have greatly sinned Liturgy
of the word may consider/ the wonders of
in my thoughts and in my words, your law. (R)
in what I have done and in First Reading (Sir 15:15–20)(Sit) 4. Instruct me, O LORD, in
what I have failed to do, (Strike
Sirach tells us that we are free to the way of your statutes,/ that
your breast) through my fault,
choose between a life of faithfulness I may exactly observe them./
through my fault, through my
and a life of sin. But God, who knows Give me discernment, that I
most grievous fault; therefore I
everything, has prepared life for the may observe your law/ and
ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all
virtuous and death for sinners. keep it with all my heart. (R)
the Angels and Saints, and you,
my brothers and sisters, to pray A reading from the Book of Second Reading (1 Cor 2:6–10)
for me to the Lord our God. Sirach
The wisdom of God is his loving plan
P—May almighty God have IF you choose you can keep the to save us through Jesus. It is the
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
commandments, they will save wisdom that proclaims the salvific
and bring us to everlasting life.
you; if you trust in God, you merit of the cross of Christ.
All—Amen.
too shall live; he has set before
A reading from the first Letter
P—Lord, have mercy. you fire and water to whichever of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
All—Lord, have mercy. you choose, stretch forth your
P—Christ, have mercy. hand. Before man are life and BROTHERS AND SISTERS: We
All—Christ, have mercy. death, good and evil, whichever speak a wisdom to those who
P—Lord, have mercy. he chooses shall be given him. are mature, not a wisdom of
All—Lord, have mercy. Immense is the wisdom of the this age, nor of the rulers of
this age who are passing away. with brother will be liable to cannot make a single hair white
Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, judgment; and whoever says or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean
mys­terious, hidden, which God to brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
predetermined before the ages answerable to the Sanhedrin; Anything more is from the evil
for our glory, and which none and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ one.”
of the rulers of this age knew; will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
—The Gospel of the Lord.
for, if they had known it, they Therefore, if you bring your gift All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
would not have crucified the to the altar, and there recall Christ.
Lord of glory. But as it is written: that your brother has anything
What eye has not seen, and ear against you, leave your gift Homily (Sit)
has not heard, and what has not there at the altar, go first and be Profession of Faith (Stand)
entered the human heart, what reconciled with your brother,
God has prepared for those who and then come and offer your All—I believe in one God,
love him, this God has revealed gift. Settle with your opponent the Father almighty, maker
to us through the Spirit. quickly while on the way to of heaven and earth, of all
things visible and invisible.
For the Spirit scrutinizes court. Otherwise your opponent I believe in one Lord Jesus
everything, even the depths will hand you over to the judge, Christ, the Only Begotten Son
of God. and the judge will hand you of God, born of the Father
over to the guard, and you will before all ages. God from God,
—The word of the Lord. be thrown into prison. Amen, Light from Light, true God from
All —Thanks be to God. I say to you, you will not be true God, begotten, not made,
Alleluia (Cf. Mt 11:25) (Stand) released until you have paid consubstantial with the Father;
the last penny. through him all things were
All—Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed “You have heard that it was made. For us men and for our
are you, Father, Lord of heaven said, You shall not commit salvation he came down from
and earth; you have revealed to adultery. But I say to you, heaven, (at the words that follow, up
little ones the mysteries of the to and including and became man,
everyone who looks at a woman all bow) and by the Holy Spirit
kingdom. Alleluia, alleluia.
with lust has already committed was incarnate of the Virgin
Gospel (Mt 5:17–37)(Long Form) adultery with her in his heart. If Mary and became man.
your right eye causes you to sin, For our sake he was crucified
P—A reading from the holy tear it out and throw it away. under Pontius Pilate, he
Gospel according to Matthew It is better for you to lose one suffered death and was buried,
All—Glory to you, O Lord. of your members than to have and rose again on the third
JESUS said to his disciples: “Do your whole body thrown into day in accordance with the
not think that I have come to Gehenna. And if your right hand Scriptures. He ascended into
causes you to sin, cut it off and heaven and is seated at the
abolish the law or the prophets. right hand of the Father. He will
I have come not to abolish but to throw it away. It is better for you
come again in glory to judge
fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until to lose one of your members the living and the dead and
heaven and earth pass away, not than to have your whole body his kingdom will have no end.
the smallest letter or the smallest go into Gehenna. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
part of a letter will pass from “It was also said, Whoever the Lord, the giver of life, who
the law, until all things have divorces his wife must give proceeds from the Father and
taken place. Therefore, whoever her a bill of divorce. But I say the Son, who with the Father
breaks one of the least of these to you, whoever divorces his and the Son is adored and
commandments and teaches wife—unless the marriage is glorified, who has spoken
others to do so will be called unlawful—causes her to commit through the prophets.
adultery, and whoever marries I believe in one, holy,
least in the kingdom of heaven. catholic, and apostolic Church.
But whoever obeys and teaches a divorced woman commits
I confess one Baptism for the
these commandments will be adultery. forgiveness of sins and I look
called greatest in the kingdom “Again you have heard that forward to the resurrection
of heaven. I tell you, unless your it was said to your ancestors, of the dead and the life of the
righteousness surpasses that of Do not take a false oath, but world to come. Amen.
the scribes and Pharisees, you make good to the Lord all that
you vow. But I say to you, do Prayer of the Faithful
will not enter the kingdom of
heaven. not swear at all; not by heaven, P—B r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s ,
“You have heard that it was for it is God’s throne; nor by through the Holy Spirit, let
said to your ancestors, You shall the earth, for it is his footstool; us ask the Father the grace
not kill; and whoever kills will nor by Jerusalem, for it is the to discern his will and the
be liable to judgment. But I city of the great King. Do not mysteries of the Kingdom.
say to you, whoever is angry swear by your head, for you Full of trust. we pray:
R—Loving God, hear our prayer.
C—Help our Church leaders
soundly discern the movement
of your Spirit in the world we
are in. We pray: (R)
C—May our national and local
leaders, and the citizenry, see
you in the face of each other
so that we may treat each other
with dignity. We pray: (R)
C—Help all families manifest
your goodness as parents,
children, and siblings strive
to be loving to each other.
We pray: (R)
C—Welcome our departed
loved ones into the heavenly
kingdom. We pray: (R)
C—Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R) P—It is truly right and just, P—Behold the Lamb of God...
our duty and our salvation, All—Lord, I am not worthy
P—Eternal God, hear our that you should enter under
plea as we strive to discern always and everywhere to give
my roof, but only say the word
the mysteries of the Kingdom you thanks, Lord, holy Father, and my soul shall be healed.
which you have lovingly almighty and eternal God.
For when your children Communion Antiphon
revealed to us through Jesus (Cf. Ps 78 [77]:29–30)
Christ our Lord. were scattered afar by sin,
All—Amen. through the Blood of your Son They ate and had their fill, and
and the power of the Spirit, what they craved the Lord gave
Liturgy of you gathered them again them; they were not disappointed
the eucharist to yourself, that a people, in what they craved.
formed as one by the unity Prayer after Communion
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
of the Trinity, made the body (Stand)
of Christ and the temple of the
P—Pray, brethren… Holy Spirit, might, to the praise P—Let us pray. (Pause)
All—May the Lord accept the of your manifold wisdom, be Having fed upon these
sacrifice at your hands for the manifest as the Church. heavenly delights, we pray,
praise and glory of his name, O Lord, that we may always
for our good and the good of And so, in company with
long for that food by which
all his holy Church. the choirs of Angels, we praise we truly live.
you, and with joy we proclaim: Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Offerings All—Holy, Holy, Holy...(Kneel) All—Amen.
P— May this oblation, O Lord, Acclamation (Stand)
we pray, cleanse and renew us
THE CONCLUDING RITES
All—Save us savior of the world
and may it become for those for by your cross and resur- P—The Lord be with you.
who do your will the source rection you have set us free! All—And with your spirit.
of eternal reward.
THE COMMUNION RITE Final Blessing
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen. The Lord’s Prayer P—May Almighty God bless
Preface (Ordinary Time VIII) you all the Father, the Son (+),
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord… and the Holy Spirit.
P—The Lord be with you. All—For the kingdom, the All—Amen.
All—And with your spirit. power and the glory are yours Dismissal
P—Lift up your hearts. now and forever.
All—We lift them up to the Lord. P—The Mass has been offered.
P—Let us give thanks to the Invitation to Peace Go in peace glorifying the Lord
Lord our God. Invitation to Communion by your life.
All—It is right and just. (Kneel) All—Thanks be to God.