Concentrating on the central teachings of Jesus

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At first sight, today's gospel could be considered to be the most astonishing words spoken by Jesus. He said that he has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them. (Matthew 5:17-19). Yet he constantly broke what the Jews called the Law. He cured sick people on the Sabbath which was forbidden. He and his disciples were criticized for not fasting or eating without observing the handwashing rules. So how can we explain the words of the gospel? When Jesus spoke of the Law he meant the great God given principles such as contained in the Ten Commandments; reverence for God, his name and his day and respect for his people by not killing, stealing or committing adultery. Jesus came to fulfil those Laws by showing us how he lived in obedience to his Father's will and by his love and care for all, especially the poor, sick and needy. But when the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees spoke of the Law they were referring to the Scribal law, that is all the interpretations made by the scribes. They reduced the great principles for life to thousands of tiny regulations. For example, no work was to be done on the Sabbath. But what was work? To carry anything more than a dried fig broke the law. To move a lamp from one place to another was prohibited on the Sabbath. Jesus wanted to teach them that such petty man-made rules were insignificant compared to his constant teaching, ''Love God and love your neighbour.'' Help us, Lord, to concentrate on your central teaching during these last weeks of Lent.