You know how difficult it was to change from chorded telephones to cell phones? I remember when cell phones were just becoming a thing, an old sliding Phone was my first one, with a small keypad that had three letters per button. It made it more difficult for texting. Remember then the transition from that phone, to the blackberry, a non flip phone, to what is now popular, touch screens. Just the transition from using keypad to a touch keypad was fascinating, yet took practice and patience to learn and adjust to. Now if you go back even earlier, not every house even had a phone, some people having to venture to their neighbour to arrange a visit with a friend. In our world, we’re always changing, constantly going through the motions and making improvements to make life not only easier for us, but happier. Venturing through the types of cellular devices is a mere example, yet something people hold very close to them nowadays. How then, is this like our changing of beliefs within theology?

   Today’s Gospel states: ‘“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’ (Matthew 5:17-19). 

   Jesus tells us that he did not come to change the laws of the prophets, the tradition of the past, but to fulfill them. Jesus is telling them, telling us, that he is the one God had spoken of through the prophets, the one to reveal God’s Kingdom in the world. This means that we must not only follow the law of the past, but embrace and learn what Jesus teaches us in the present, as God Himself takes form to teach us through the person of Jesus. What is there to be confused about then? The people of Jesus’ time couldn’t grasp everything he was teaching them because it was so different from their practiced tradition. Eating with the poor, oppressed, the tax collector? Who could do such a thing, as it was considered ‘unclean’ in their eyes. However, Jesus tells us that it is more about being clean oneself, but helping others to become cleansed (baptized) and loving, weighing even greater in importance. In our modern world, there are so many new religious traditions, many that don’t make sense to us. However, God is speaking to us, trying to get us to learn more about our neighbour and the world around us, so to bring the Kingdom of God to the entire world. Embrace the changes, learn more about them and see how God is working within them in this world.

    Today’s prayer comes from 'following Jesus' a prayer for discipleship:

God of love, source of mercy and compassion, weave your dream for the world into the fabric of our lives. 

Remove the scales from our eyes and lift the indifference from our hearts, so that we may see your vision – a new reign of justice and compassion that will renew the earth.

Transform our lives, so that we may accomplish your purpose.

Anoint us with your spirit of love that we might bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim release to the captive.

Give us a new urgency and a new commitment to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit those who live in isolation.

Help us to reach out to those whom no one else will touch, to accept the unacceptable, and to embrace the enemy.

Surround us with your love, fill us with your grace, and strengthen us for your service.

Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus – to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow.

Make us your disciples.

Amen