Verbum Dei UK

Eccles (Sir) 15:15-20; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ; Matthew 5:17-37

MEDITATION:

This week Jesus, having given his sermon on the mount, clarifies that he doesn't want to simply alter a list of rules and ethics, but to turn our lives into a faithful love-story.

Many are put off by a Church of 'rules and regulations'. Jesus knows that and responds: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another" (John 14:34-35 ). The Jews were good at fulfilling rules but they did so with hard hearts. Christianity isn't a set of rules but a person. And his Father isn't a disciplinarian but a loving father… as if we could call him Dad!

 

Sometimes we make the mistake of reducing man's relationship with God to a matter of obeying the rules of religious practice. Jewish tradition call it 'the law'. What God longs for is true love, so Jesus went through his passion on Calvary precisely as a way of winning our hearts from a cold fulfillment of rules without love. St Paul was a very educated leader of Jews and he turned the corner and wrote this: 'Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree (a metaphor of the cross)."' (Gal 3:13 ).

The Old Testament deals with 'consecration' to God very much in terms of fulfilling rules and regulations, while the New Testament deals much more with 'consecration' as a deep attitude of heart. It's not good to 'go to mass' in order just to carry out a duty, but rather with a humble awareness that one is thirsty and in need of 'the water of Christ, hungry in need of his feeding' and immature in need of his training! Our faith points out to Christ. And He's it! He's an unending and infinitely variable leader. He guides us all together, and He guides each person individually. That's why a personal life of prayer is so important. Christ is much more interested in stimulating us to do things than in forbidding. The Church is here to guide us positively much more than to slow us down with 'legalism'. Rules are there simply to guard our base, but that's only a small prologue to a great adventure. Christ draws us forward with the promise of pleasant fruits, rather than obliging us like a dictator.

You could actually say that for the Jews, the 'law' itself was their God - as opposed to God being a person with whom to relate. A lot of heterodoxy had crept in among the ancient Jews. John the Baptist and Jesus were like 'revivalists'... trying to get back to the roots! 'Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."' (Jn 8:31-32 ).

Let's not just 'follow the letter of the law' but be moved by the Spirit of love. Then comes the 'mysterious wisdom' of the second reading (1 Cor 2:6-7 ). Let's keep respect for law but as part of a love-story!

……………Dara.

---

Publish: