In the first reading, Dt 4: 1, 5-9, Moses says to he people: "Now, Israel, hear the statues and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may life, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you....[T]each them to your children and to your children's children." In the gospel, Matthew 5: 17-19, Jesus says 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....[W]hoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will e called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
The Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, a place in the Middle East. We are on our way to a better place, our eternal home, heaven, a place of eternal peace, a place where Satan and evil does not exist! Statues and decrees and commandments are guideposts along our way to help us meet our goals of entering eternal life to live with God forever by living a life of love and service to others. Woe to those, Jesus warns us, who teach little ones to ignore or trample upon the commandments by a life of disobedience!
How am I an example of one who obeys God's commandments, the commandments of love, loving God--the first second and third commandments--and loving one's neighbor--the 4th through the 10th commandments?
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