The secret of living in happiness
Listening the Spirit
Loving and Faithful God,
purify our hearts, O Lord,
that our faith may go beyond words and appearances,
and take root in our thoughts, our desires, and our daily choices.
Heal what is hidden within us—
the anger we carry, the compromises we excuse,
the half-truths we allow in the name of convenience.
Form us as a people whose “yes” is truthful and whose “no” is honest,
whose relationships are marked by respect and fidelity,
and whose search for harmony leads to true reconciliation, not silence.
As Filipinos shaped by faith, family, and community,
teach us to live Your law with a transformed heart—
so that our devotion may become integrity,
our traditions may bear the fruit of justice and compassion,
And our lives may give You glory.
We offer this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen
Listening the Word: Matthew 5:17-37
Jesus said 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.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,'
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, 'You fool,'
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful -
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the evil one."
Reflection
After our meditation last Sunday on our identity like salt of the earth and light of the world, Jesus, on this sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time teaches us about the true meaning or real significance of the Law. Through everyday life situations, he shows that all the commandments we receive from the Father are actually not sources of frustration, but words of love, in other words, expressions of the Covenant in order to remain in his friendship. Far from any moral rigorism, Jesus leads us into something deeper: holiness in simplicity, patience, trust, and daily effort. By remaining faithful to them, his words of love bring happiness, and thus a life of fullness.
On this Sunday’s Gospel page, Jesus explains in detail three important commandments: murder, adultery, and false oaths, without forgetting the note he makes on the final judgment. It is precisely to better prepare us to live in the Covenant of love initiated by the Father that we need to understand today’s meditation, for as Psalm 119 (118) says, “Blessed are those who walk according to the Lord’s Law.”
Indeed, God, who is Father, desires only the life and happiness of those He has willed. That is why He gives the Law as the proper path to achieve it. Very often, when we think of the Law, we have a negative and legalistic connotation, sometimes seeing it as an obstacle to our Fulfillment. Yet, it is a spirituality full of positivity and hope. We must therefore continually engage in the logic of education according to the sequela Christi, which makes us true disciples of Christ, convinced and convincing not by the force of arguments, but by the consistency of our actions, however small they may be. This is the path of Beauty that goes through authenticity.
Beloved, observing the Law is a sign of collaboration with God and, in addition to respect, it brings us closer to the full realization of our vocation to happiness.
On this Sunday, we are challenged to examine our way of looking at the SCRIPTURES for a conversion of perspective. For Jesus goes far beyond the Law. Observing the 5th commandment that forbids murder, the 6th that prohibits adultery, and the 8th that forbids false testimony, confronts us with our conscience. We know what is going on within us; we know our shortcomings. Or if we don’t know yet all, let us take time for that purpose. This is why Ben Sirach the Wise man, in today’s first reading, reminds us: “If you choose, you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you shall live” (Sir 15:15). So let us not be discouraged by what we have to do; let us not think of the Law as something unattainable or outdated for our time. On the contrary, let us rely on God’s help and grace.
Jesus, who repeatedly returns to the phrase, “You have heard that it was said... But I say to you...,” aims to provide deep motivations for living in friendship with the Father. For the battle is always against violence, impurity, and falsehood, which are obstacles to our flourishing in communion with the Trinity. We should not obey out of fear of punishment, but simply out of love.
When have I judged others? When have I treated others like objects instead of people who deserve respect? When have I failed to keep my promises? How can I allow myself to truly love Jesus’ Law in my daily life?
Reflection Questions
- Do I see God’s Law as a burden and limitation, or as a loving path that leads me to true freedom, friendship with God, and lasting happiness?
2. In my daily life, how can I move beyond external observance of the commandments and grow in authenticity of heart—choosing love over anger, purity over selfishness, and truth over falsehood?
