Our readings this weekend focus on divine law, the commandments given to us by God as he gradually reveals Himself and his plan of salvation for the world. In these readings, we are not just given a laundry list of things to do or not do. The first reading connects following God’s commandments to preserving our lives. It’s a choice each of us has to make; God won’t force us to follow his commands. God’s laws can be mysterious at times but each and every one of them is holy and purposeful. Together they form a way of life and a roadmap to happiness in heaven. Ignoring or breaking these divine laws will affect our relationship with God in some way.
For many of us, as Americans, we have a different view of law. In our culture, law is restrictive, in some ways we might think of them as limits to my personal freedom. Generally speaking our feelings on laws, at least those that are man-made, would be the fewer the better. There is something in our human nature that wants to find that fine line of getting around the law without breaking it. Or doing what the law requires but nothing more.
We see this literal approach to the law in little children. Growing up, I dreaded Ash Wednesday and Good Friday because they were fast days, meaning you could only have one full meal. Since I hated being hungry and was a glutton, I tried to interpret the law to my advantage. The law of fasting is that you can have one regular meal and two small meals, which combined, do not equal the regular meal. I argued that I could eat 5 sandwiches for lunch on a regular day (which I could). Therefore, on days of fasting, my little meals could be equal to 2 sandwiches each with a massive meal at the end of the day. Perhaps this did not technically break the laws on fasting but it certainly violated the spirit of the law which was to help me enter into a sense of sacrifice in solidarity with Christ on the cross.
When is comes to laws and commandments given by God, they are so much more than simple rules, hoops to jump through, or a checklist. They are part of a relationship. Maybe when we were young, we saw only rules and simply obeyed them to stay out of trouble or confession. Hopefully, as we grow older they become part of who we are and we follow them, not out of fear of punishment but because we love God. We want to preserve and protect that relationship with the Lord. To live the commandments this way requires faith and trust!
Jesus tells us that he is not here to get rid of the law but to fulfill it. He expands and deepens the commandments because he is establishing a deeper, more intimate friendship with the Father. This new friendship requires a heart that is even more pure and sensitive to the will of God. These expanded laws help us to have such a heart if we embrace them with love.
Those of you who are parents know exactly what God is hoping for! When your kids are young, they are mostly motivated by the fear of getting in trouble, losing privileges or some other punishment. Many times, these sort of reminders or threats are the only thing that gets a child to clean his room, do her homework, or apologize to a sibling. Hopefully, as children get older, they begin to do what mom and dad ask, not out of fear but love. As they mature, rules are kept out of respect for the parents’ authority and wisdom. Even when a child may not agree with a command, the mature one obeys it as a sign of love and appreciation for everything the parents have done for him. There might even be the humility and self-awareness to acknowledge that mom and dad are asking me to do this because they know something I don’t. Keeping the law or commandment is only part of the equation; the motivation behind the obedience reveals where a child is in their relationship with their parents.
Which leads us to ask, “where are we in our practice of the commandments in relation to God our Father?” Are we tiptoeing around the letter of the law, trying to do the least possible without breaking the rules? Are we keeping the commandments only to stay out of trouble with God or avoid punishment for our sins? If we could get away with ignoring the commandments of the Lord, would we? I think, to some extent, all of us could answer yes to one or more of these questions. Most of us have some work to do before we can honestly say we are keeping God’s laws out of love rather than fear or obligation.
Thankfully, we have some things working to our advantage! We have a God who loves us perfectly, 24/7, for all eternity. He does not have bad days nor does he lose his temper or become passive aggressive. His laws are always for our own good and any commandment he has given will help us in some way to live in peace with each other and grow in love for him. He is infinitely patient with us and will always forgive our failures and shortcomings; all we have to do is ask, especially in the sacrament of confession.
The commandments of God and the laws of the Church are so much more than rules. Every one of them, no matter how small or mysterious, serves to protect us and draw us closer to God. They are the road leading to everlasting life, perfect love, and unshakeable peace. Imagine how much happiness it brings God when we keep his commandments out of love rather than fear or obligation! When we trust in his law for the world, even when it might not make complete sense or part of us disagrees!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord, the psalmist says. May we be among the blessed of God’s children keeping his commandments with love and faith!
