Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Image result for matthew 5:17-19Jesus’ attitude towards the Law is not obvious at first sight.  It would seem on the one hand that He moves away from a strict observance of the details of the Law and towards a deeper conversion of heart and adherence to the principles of the Law.  “You strain out the gnat but swallow a camel!”, “You have heard it said[…], I say to you […]”  However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus makes sure that His insistence on the essence of the Law does not encourage His followers to abandon the details altogether. read more