Sunday 12 February 2023 – VI of Ordinary Time

+ From the Gospel according to Matthew (5, 17 – 37)

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
«Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to give full fulfilment. Truly I say to you: until heaven and earth have passed, not a single iota or a single dash of the Law will pass, without everything having happened. Whoever therefore transgresses only one of these minimum precepts and teaches others to do the same, will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever observes and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
Indeed I say to you: if your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have understood that it was said to the ancients: “You shall not kill; whoever kills will be subjected to judgment”. But I tell you, whoever gets angry with his brother will be judged. Whoever then says to his brother: “Stupid”, he will have to be subjected to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says to him: “Fool”, he will be destined for the fire of Geènna.
If therefore you present your offering at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother and then return and offer yours. gift.
Arrange quickly with your adversary while you are on the way with him, lest the adversary hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you: you will not leave there until you have paid every penny!
You heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you, whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you: it is better for you to lose one of your members, rather than your whole body being thrown into Geènna. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you: for it is better for you to lose one of your limbs than for your whole body to go to hell.
It was also said: “Whoever divorces his wife, must give her the certificate of divorce”. But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except in the case of an illegitimate union, exposes her to adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
You also understood that it was said to the ancients: “You will not swear falsely, but you will fulfill your oaths to the Lord”. But I tell you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. your head, because you have no power to make a single hair white or black. Instead, let your speech be: “yes, yes”, “no, no”; the more comes from the evil one».

Word of the Lord.