Fulfilling the Law
One of the ways God showed his love to his people, Israelites, was through giving them the Law the book of the Deuteronomy brings out clearly the importance of this law. We do not often associate law with love, but the book of Deuteronomy, though it is a law-book, and indeed all the Pentateuch and the prophets, is vibrant with the love of God. How is the law a sign of love to his people?
The Law which was given to the Jews was to foster life and to live in communion with God the source of all life, for when we are in God then we have life. The law was thus a loving gift of God to his people, designed to lead Israel in the ways of God and so keep Israel close to God. It was therefore very precious. Since it showed Israel the ways of God, it was a revelation of God itself. Through the law, God was and is so close to his people, in fact he is among them which is the highest kind of love God shows to his people. The Israel people were proud of this law, and as seen in today's first reading, they rejoiced why saying, "For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?" To obey the law is of course obligatory but much more important is the loving response to an act of love which God shows us daily.
Jesus puts it clearly in today's Gospel that he didn't come to abolish this law but to fulfill it, though the scribes and Pharisees were always condemning him for breaking the law. The Pharisees and scribes followed the letter of the law while Jesus, in fulfilling the law, brought and taught the Spirit of the law, that is, law that fosters life and love of God and neighbours. Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day." Though for the people of Israel the "law" generally could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, or to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people, it's obvious that the scribes added many more things to the law than God had intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law. It placed burdens on people which God had not intended. Jesus, however, made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled in its spirit. Do we rejoice greatly in the Law of God, as a sign of love of God to us and that which keeps us closer to God and follow it with guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus, while remaining faithful to the Law, gives it his own emphasis, often quoting the Bible itself. ‘My pleasure is in mercy not sacrifice’ (Hosea 6.6, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 9.13) gives a whole new dimension to worship and forgiveness. Putting love of neighbour on a level with the first commandment of love of God (bringing Leviticus 19.18 to the level of Deuteronomy 6.4, as in Mark 12.29) gives a new emphasis on the treatment of others. The insistence on the permanence of the bond of marriage as a law of nature (Mark 10.8, as opposed to Deuteronomy 24.1) gives a firm basis for the family. Perhaps most of all, it was Jesus’ awareness of the full meaning of what it is to be the Servant of the Lord God prophesied in Isaiah, that led to his act of perfect, loving obedience on the Cross.
Jesus fulfilled the law by removing all false interpretation and giving us the right teachings as well as deepening the understanding of law. It’s interesting to note that the new depth of the moral law Jesus gives actually goes beyond human reason. For instance, “Thou shall not kill” makes sense to almost everyone, but “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” is a new moral law that makes sense only by the help of grace. But without grace, the natural human mind alone cannot arrive at this new commandment.
For us we fulfil the law by living according to what demands of us, for instance, love your enemy, give alms, help the poor, help the religious in spreading good news and so forth. However, in doing so we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give us discernment so that we may discern well what the right interpretation of the law is as well as to interpret the law very well, rather than relying on human reason. May the Holy Spirit guide us daily to teach and follow what is the right law of God for whoever teaches otherwise to the law is regarded as the least in the kingdom. We have been given faith, many gifts of the Holy Spirit, grace through the sacraments, and a Christian community to support us on our way to heaven. Our responsibility is to share our experience of faith with others in a genuine spirit of humility, full of the love of Christ.
O Lord, you have given us your law that whoever follows it may have life and live a life pleasing to and in communion with you. Help us to know the real meaning of the law you have given us so that we may live according to it. Amen
Blessed Lent
How sweet is the law of God
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