Gospel (Mt 5,17-19) - 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 it, but to give it full fulfilment. Truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single iota or a single dash of the Law will pass away without everything having come to pass. Whoever therefore transgresses even one of these minimum precepts and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever observes them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The novelty of the Gospel does not represent a break with the biblical tradition of the First Testament. On the contrary, Jesus clearly states that he came to fulfill the alliance that God established with his people and that he finds his codification in the Law and the Prophets. The entire story of love that God has woven with his people, from Abraham to the Baptist, finds its fulfillment in Jesus, his full realization. That love that pushed God himself to come down to free his people from the slavery of Egypt, to accompany them on the long journey in the desert and in the following centuries, reached its fulfillment with Jesus. In every word of Scripture there is the spark of God. For this reason it must not be lost. And every time it is lost, that spark is lost with it. This is why Jesus says: "Until heaven and earth pass away, not a single iota or dash of the Law will pass away." Francis of Assisi's recommendation to his friars to collect every small piece of parchment that falls on the ground comes to mind: "It may contain some words of the Gospel", he said. And Jesus further adds: «Whoever, therefore, transgresses even one of these minimum precepts... will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven». Jesus asks that all Scripture be accepted and become light for believers. The disciple, following the master, must also bring to completion in everyday life what is written in the Scriptures. And the heart of the biblical pages, the thread that binds them all, we can summarize it in the exhortation that Jesus makes at the end of the speech: "You, therefore, be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect". And perfection is love