In today's first reading we feel Paul's enthusiasm and optimism as he tried to explain to his Corinthian converts the privilege of being called to service in the freedom of the Spirit. He, who was once the slave of the Law, knew what it was to serve under the burden of the Law and he was determined that those he had brought to new life in Jesus Christ should never be put under the same yoke.

In the second reading, we find Jesus defending the Law and clearly stating that He "had not come to abolish the Law". How then can we reconcile the teaching of Paul and that of Jesus Himself?

Jesus also said that He had come "not to abolish but to complete" the Law. Jesus looked upon the Law as the seal of the Covenant which God gave and the Israelites accepted on Mount Sinai and, therefore, it was sacred to Him. He had it written in His heart and fulfilled it as His part of the Covenant. Thus, He lived the spirit rather than the letter of the Law and it became a liberating rather than an oppressive force in his life. Paul was not able to do this until he met Jesus Christ.