Matthew 5:17-19
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Homily:
I laugh whenever I see people talk about how the Old Testament is “old” and all that is required to understand God’s will is in the New Testament.
They want an all-loving God that provokes no fear.
They want an all-merciful God that does not punish.
They want a consistent God that is predictable.
They want a human God that understands human frailties.
The truth is God will not be God, if he is limited by our expectations.
He can be all-loving and fearsome.
He can be merciful and punish.
He can be consistent and unpredictable.
He can be human and God.