Coheirs of God’s promises
Before diving into today specific passage, let’s take a closer look at the Gospel of Matthew.
Biblical scholars agree that much of it is divided into five lengthy sermons from Jesus. All of them build upon one another, providing a framework for discipleship.
In the first sermon — which occurs just before today’s reading — Jesus delivers the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.
Sandwiched between the Sermon on the Mount and today’s reading is the passage in which Jesus tells us we are “blessed” in the Kingdom of heaven if we value God above all things, and that we are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus expands on this message by helping us understand our part in upholding the Old Testament Law of Moses. Jesus’ teachings fulfill the Law and reveal God’s love for the poor and the oppressed: Every person is valued. Every person matters to God.
That was the Law’s original intent — it was given to God’s chosen people to reveal how much God loved them and show them how they should, in turn, demonstrate this love to each other.
While at a funeral Mass the other day, I was struck by the phrase “that we might merit to be coheirs” within the Eucharistic Prayer. Already thinking about what I might want to write for this reflection, the words struck me. God freely chose to associate himself with us. We are blessed. We are salt. We are light. No interpretation of the law takes that from us. And through our Baptism, we are coheirs of God’s promises, inviting others to join us.
Michelle Thivierge is Director of Community Partnerships at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany.