by Jéssica Marçal
In the Angelus, Sunday, Pope Francis commented on the attitude of Jesus in relation to the Jewish Law, stressing the meaning of the full compliment of the Law and of the superior justice. the Holy Father emphasized the need for all the gather around the greatest commandment of God: The commandment to love.
The reflection started in the Gospel for Sunday, in which the objective of Jesus is stated: bringing to fullness the commandments that God gave to Moses, that which requires superior justice.
As an example, he cited what Jesus said on the fifth commandment: ” Do not kill”. Jesus reminded that words can also kill, said the Pope.
“Gossip can kill. And it is so crude to gossip. In the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and poisons us . . . Therefore, it not should we be attentive to the life of the neighbor, but also we should not launch against him the poison of anger. Jesus proposes to whomever follows Him the perfection of love: a love whose only measure is not to have a measure, to go beyond all calculations,” said the Pope.
Francis explained that, from this, it is possible to understand that Jesus does not give the importance simply to the observance of discipline and external conduct, but it is necessary to go the root of the law, with the focus on the intention and in the heart of the man. This is the place which is the origin of good or bad actions.
“To have good and honest behavior is not enough for legal rules, but deep motivations expressed in a hidden wisdom, the Wisdom of God that can welcome the graces of the Holy Spirit is necessary.
Concluding the reflections, the Holy Father reminded that. the light from the teachings of Jesus, each precept reveals its full meaning as a demand of love. Still, alll should come together in the major commandment to love God with all one’s heart and neighbor as oneself.