Keep The Law And Be Great

Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
Matthew 5:17-19

The commands of the Lord are meant to be yet another sign of God’s love for the people whom He has chosen. In the first reading, Moses gives the people their laws and tells them to be careful to observe them because they come from God. This is also a reminder of the importance of the commands of God in our daily lives. The law in those days stemmed from the Ten Commandments(Decalogue), the Pentateuch and the whole of Scripture.   The Law was really more about principles than about rules and regulations.  Principles to help guide life in community.  Scribes and Pharisees made it their business to reduce the principles to rules and regulations that they could enforce them. 

During the time of Jesus, the rules and regulations had already been multiplied and in fulfilling the Law,, Jesus was getting back to the principles of respect and reverence.  Reverence for God and God’s day, respect for parents, neighbors, life and truth. This he fulfilled throughout his entire life. On the contrary, Jesus was forever being accused of breaking the law – healing on the Sabbath; why do you not wash your hands as the law proclaims?;  how is it that you and your disciples pick the wheat on the Sabbath?…

Christ, in the Gospel tells us that He came to complete the laws given to us by Moses and that they are to be obeyed. Jesus raises the commands and precepts to a new level. He wants us to realize the love GOD has for us and to share that love with others. He wants us to live the spirit of the law and not just the mere letter of the law, and while this at times is harder to do it is infinitely more rewarding and more pleasing to God. The 10 Commandments may have been given many centuries ago but they are not outdated and are still to be obeyed by all.

Do I see rules and regulations as being an aid in deepening my relationship with GOD and with others? Have rules and regulations ever been in disagreement with my drawing closer to God? Lent is an opportunity for us to reconnect with the principles of life – of love – and of mercy.  It is a season inviting us to something deeper – we are called to live the Ten Commandments through the lens of the Beatitudes.  To be deeply present to God and to one another,   Lent is a time to allow God to lift us out of our old ruts, help us refocus and reframe our lenses so that we can be channels of healing, opportunity, and possibility

May we always delight to do God’s will and may His law be always within our hearts. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho