Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

 

Have you ever considered what Israel’s vocation was? They are God’s chosen people, and God called them, through Abraham, to be a people with a mission. That mission, outlined in our first reading from Deuteronomy, was to show their “wisdom and intelligence to the nations…for what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us.”

Israel was called to obey the laws God gave them so they could teach the nations how wonderful, freeing, and powerful it was to be God’s people. The hope was that if they could see that, they would want to be part of what they had and join Israel in worshiping God and following his laws.

When Jesus says he has not come to abolish the law but fulfill it, he means, “if you follow me, I will teach you the love of God so YOU can teach the whole world!” We have the same vocation of Israel, to show the world how wise we are to follow God, how blessed we are, and say to the world, “let us show you and teach you so you may be a blessing!”

Reflection by Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB

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