Love Over the Law
Paul in the first reading is full of anguish and sorrow because of his own people, his kindred according to the flesh. They are children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ. Despite all these, they missed the last point, the fulfilment of all that they treasured, that is, Jesus Christ. Their rejection of Jesus Christ was a sad and sorrowful experience for Paul for it was Christ that they were waiting for all the time but when he appeared they could not believe him nor in him.
The Gospels are full of how the Pharisees, the Scribes and some Jews were always critical of and watching Jesus closely, testing him and trapping him, plotting to kill, denying his miracles and refusing his preaching and finally killed him. Do we also weep for our family members, friends and relatives for their denial of Christ and pray for their conversion. Paul gives us the best example of that, and he hopes that the Israelites too will come one day to full communion with the gentiles, and all will be saved. All hope is not lost, let us always place our dear ones who have strayed away and deny Christ through their deeds and words, so that one day they will join us the Body of Christ.
One of the examples of how Israelites rejected Jesus is in today's Gospel as the Pharisees are watching Jesus and are ready to accuse him if he heals the man with dropsy on Sabbath. Nevertheless, Jesus heals the man and defeats them with a rhetorical question, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" and they were unable to answer that question.
The man suffering from dropsy was likely judged by the Pharisees to be a sinner and therefore they saw his affliction as a punishment by God. We know that not all suffering is a consequence of sin, and Jesus has taught us that judgment is God’s right alone. Jesus shows concern for the suffering man and taught us how to be merciful. May we choose as Christ did to reach out and lift others up with mercy and forgiveness.
The Pharisees followed the letter of the law, interpreting it in minute detail. In their rigorous enforcement, they distracted themselves and veered off from God’s original intention. They missed the message Christ brought; love sums up the whole law. Jesus gave us the reason behind the law. Not working on the Sabbath is an important way to honor God, but the law does not justify leaving someone to suffer unnecessarily. Loving acts of kindness and healing are always encouraged, Sabbath or not.
Jesus left the Pharisees speechless when he exposed their hypocrisy and legalism. They knew that no words could defend their judgmental attitude. At times in our lives, Jesus exposes our sins to us as well—either through other people, interiorly during prayer, or by negative consequences we experience. In those instances, silence might be our best recourse, but not the silence that disguises internal rage like that of the Pharisees. Our silence reflects our sorrow for having offended Jesus, humility, and the desire to be strengthened and healed through the sacraments. As we say in the act of contrition, we “firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.”
Let us Pray.
Dear Lord, true love engenders a merciful heart. Help me to love like you do, so that when I see someone in need, I reach out to help, whether it’s convenient or not. I want to recognize my own insignificance and see you in every soul I encounter. When I fail, allow me to see my faults and humbly seek you in the sacrament of reconciliation. Amen
Be blessed.
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