Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches 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.”

Matthew 5: 17-19

Here are the complete readings for Wednesday, March 26, 2025

(Moses and Christ Pantocrator images)

Who were your best teachers, either in formal school or in life? They likely demonstrated at least these three key qualities: They had command of their subject or skill and were passionate about why it was important. They cared about you as a person and appreciated your presence each time you interacted together. Finally, these people had a sense of trust that their teaching techniques were not fixed and there was room for adjustment in response to the changing of times. Now consider the words of Moses and Jesus in today’s readings. It is easy to get caught up in the legalistic tones in the text. Instead, reflect on the reasons why Moses and Jesus are so solemn in their pronouncements. They care deeply about the people in their communities, and are so conscientious about explaining the words of God clearly to make a more just and peaceful world. Finally, each passage is imbued with the wonder of mystery, because our lives are not stuck in one place, but are part of something deeper and intimately connected to the holy presence of God. It is a gift to have a great teacher, and a gift to that teacher is to pass those lessons along with the same care and awe.

For your part,
God asks you in return
to make the word of God your home.
To do this
you must be willing to spend time each day
in solitude and prayer,
opening yourself to God’s living word. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, I am grateful for the people who have cared enough to teach me and helped me to grow. Please open our minds and hearts to the difficult conversations that help us turn towards you. May we understand that your commands have their roots in love. May our actions reflect what you have taught us, and may we love you and our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are grateful that you show us each day how loved we are.

Amen