16th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 28th July 2023 – Exodus 20,1-17; Mt 13,18-23
Core of Covenant Relationship
The first reading presents the revelation of God’s commandments to Moses and Israelites. After they arrived at the foot of Mt.Sinai, in order to establish a special relationship, God gave them the Ten Commandments. They are the laws dealing with matters of worship and moral behaviour. Many of the Ten Commandments can be observed by doing nothing – not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery. The essence of the commandments is meant to enhance the covenant relationship which God has established with his people. In giving these commandments, God is not trying to restrict People’s freedom, but to give them the freedom to worship God and show God’s loving care for the other members of the community. The Decalogue is the core of the Mosaic Law and hence it is put at the beginning. Similarly, in Matthew’s Gospel, the Beatitudes hold an analogous position in the New Law. As an instruction and deterrent, the Decalogue is still valid in the New Law, but Jesus pushes its interpretation to a much deeper level. Anyone who consciously lives the Beatitudes can simply forget about the Decalogue. The Decalogue is primarily based on the observance of law; the Beatitudes are based on love.
