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Several years ago, there was a trend on social media where a parent tested their little children by setting some tasty treats in front of them and leaving the room. The kids were instructed to leave the snack untouched until the parent came back, which was only supposed to be a few moments later. The children were not told they were being recorded on video. As you can imagine, many of the youngsters failed the test almost immediately. A few of them, probably oldest children, driven by guilt and perfectionism, kept their paws off the prize but most gave in to the temptation to at least eat something while they thought their parents were out of sight.
These videos were hilarious because they were so relatable. Any parent knows that without constant supervision, it doesn’t take long for children to find their way into mischief. Also, even with the best intentions, if someone thinks they are all alone, they tend to say and do things they might never do around others. Breaking the rules doesn’t seem like such a big deal if no one sees it! This is true of both adults and children!
Which begs the question for you and me: How do we see God’s law and commandments? As a way of life that brings freedom and joy? As a code to follow which brings blessing and salvation? As a gift which is wise and timeless? I hope so! But is it possible that we often see God’s law and commandments as a burden, as foolish and out of date, as restrictive and keeping us from happiness?
To put it another way, are we not like those little children, with an irresistible treat in front of us, waiting for a chance to stuff our faces? Do we look for ways to get around God’s laws, are we willing to break them if we think no one will notice? If we were given a free pass or we knew we wouldn’t get caught, what laws or commandments would we stop observing? Isn’t there a part of us that keeps the law and commandments, not so much because we love them, but simply because we don’t want to get in trouble or be punished?
Today’s scriptures are trying to drive home this point: God’s law is meant to change our heart and make it more like his. It is not just a list of rules to follow to keep God off our back. This process starts with our actions and external behavior but that’s only the beginning. The law and commandments are part of a relationship. Jesus expands and deepens the commandments because he is inviting us to 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. That is why it is no longer good enough to pat myself on the back for resisting the urge to steal, lie, lust, and kill. Many of us would, if we could! As followers of Christ, we must be willing to surrender even the feelings and desires which starts me on the path to harm another. We cannot just resist the sinful action but must be cleansed of the willingness to harm or use another person. Jesus wants us to live forever with him and the father in heaven. But this is not just about acting more like God, we must also love like the Father and that transformation happens by cleansing our desires, emotions, and affections. We want to preserve and protect that relationship with the Lord. To live the commandments this way requires faith and trust! It also moves our motivation towards love instead of fear and obligation.
One last observation about the social media videos I mentioned; of course the whole thing was light-hearted and funny but it was unfair from the start. The proper thing would have been to never put those little kids in the situation where disobeying their parents was so easy and hard to resist. Jesus shocks us with his over-the-top advice on how to avoid similar situations when it comes to God’s law and commandments. He tells us to be ruthless in cutting off the things that lead us to sin with the image of plucking out eyes that look away from God and chopping off hands that want to embrace sin. Should we interpret this literally? No! Should we take it seriously? Yes! Each of us has a responsibility to do our best in trying to avoiding whatever leads us or others into sin.
There are countless struggles and situations that apply uniquely to each person here and we can’t go into the details of what must be cut off and plucked out for every one. However, I would like to make a single direct and concrete encouragement to you based my ministry as a priest over 15 years. We are all citizens of an online world, whether we like it not. The internet its not going anywhere and we need to find ways of living with it that are practical and realistic but always protecting our families and values. Jesus’ command to cut off and cast out applies to each of us in some way regarding our online behavior and use of technology. For a growing number, that will truly mean getting rid of a smartphone that allows us to be online all the time and easily drawn into sin. For others, it will mean finding ways to stop impulse shopping that promises fulfillment but only delivers debt and clutter. For parents, it means monitoring your children’s time and access online so that they are protected from the many corrupting influences that hate innocence, prey on the young, and discourage young minds with perverted fantasies and impossible comparisons. So many adults struggle to contain their addiction to screens and harmful curiosity; why are we so naive and careless to think we can place unrestricted access to the internet before our children and expect they will not be harmed? For many people, social media and online anonymity make them feel like no one sees them and that is why people often act very differently than they would person-to-person. For Christians, we must be willing to take an honest look at how our use of the internet and technology affects our souls and the spiritual well-being of others. Most of us need to be willing to make changes to avoid the things that lead us and the people we care for into sin. While it may seem drastic to the world around us, nothing is more important than our eternal well-being and the spiritual health of our children who are often put in impossible situations.
Thankfully, we have many 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!
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 and never grow weary of helping others to do the same!
