Catholic Fundamentalism rejoices! Yesterday, we saw The Church’s daily reading that included Mt. 5:19. It referred to “The Least Commandments” that would be obeyed by those who would be “great in Heaven”. We learned to think of “The Least Commandments” as those by which Jesus let us know about “Thou art Peter, and on this rock, I build My Church.” and “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.”
Yesterday’s Reading confirmed that those who do not obey these “least commandments” end up being “least in The Kingdom of Heaven”.
How to obey “The Least Commandments”? Receive the Sacraments. “The Least Commandments are the words of Jesus that tell us to receive the Seven Sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Those who avoid any of them in their fulness will be “least in the Kingdom of Heaven” according to the passages that accompany Mt. 5:19.
Today’s Reading reinforces that, and lets us know that those who do not see and understand how to obey these “least Commandments”, to receive The Sacraments in His Church, have a veil over them:
2 Cor 3:15—4:1, 3-6
To this day, whenever Moses is read,
a veil lies over the hearts of the children of Israel,
but whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom.
All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
we are not discouraged.
And even though our Gospel is veiled,
it is veiled for those who are perishing,
in whose case the god of this age
has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,
so that they may not see the light of the Gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,
and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,‘
has shone in our hearts to bring to light
the knowledge of the glory of God
on the face of Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm PS 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
(Even the Psalms encourage obedience to “The Least Commandments”!)
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land. (We must obey “The Least Commandments, taking Communion and receiving The Sacraments in The Roman Catholic Church.)
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
Gospel Mt 5:20-26
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
