Next
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 16/2/2020 - Gospel: Mt 5: 17-37
Perfect law
Some believe natural law is designed by God to govern the natural world. The divine law is not just simply a way to govern our way of life, but its primary purpose is to show our love, and worship of God. There is another set of laws to govern a society, and that is manmade laws. The differences between the divine law and manmade law are not of their purposes, but rather, their natures. Both sets of laws serve to protect human life in their own way.

First, the divine law is born out of God's love; while manmade law is born out of fear. When God creates a person, God inscribes into that person's heart the divine law, that enables the person to love God, to enjoy God's creation, and to love others. Manmade laws are given in response to the needs of a society at a given time. Without such laws, governments are frightened that bad things can be out of control, and that creates chaos for the society. Manmade laws are born out of human knowledge, and wisdom, which in themselves are limited, and sometimes are biased in favour towards popular cultures. When a popular culture dies, that law becomes history.

Second, the divine law has universal implications and is timeless; while manmade laws are local, limited, and differ from place to place. 

Third, God blesses those who are faithful, enabling them to keep the divine laws. God's grace assists a person to be faithful to God's laws; manmade laws give no assistance in helping people to keep the laws. The strength of the laws relies on discipline and punishment for those who break the laws.

Law makers before Jesus failed to interpret the divine law correctly. Unfortunately, instead of making the law relevant, and easy for the public, to ease the burden of life, and to promote life; they made the law a heavy burden for the poor, and widows. Jesus came to fulfil the law, not to abandon it as people criticised him. Jesus fulfilled the law by he himself observing the law. He showed his authority in interpreting the law. He fulfilled the promises, fulfilling the prophecies by early prophets, and by his submission in doing God's will. The accomplishment of the law happens at the moment of his death, when he displayed his love on the cross. His death and resurrection established the new covenantal relationship between God and the human race. For Jesus, the divine law goes beyond the letter of the law. It is not based on the exterior appearance, but rather it is extended beyond the letter, and at the human heart's level. It is the interior attitudes of a person towards the law, that counts. For Jesus, reconciliation brings peace, and harmony for a community, and that is the way of God. It is not punishment and disciplines as manmade law proposed. Peace, harmony, and the sense of liberation, and achievement gained from reconciliation are qualities of God's kingdom, that a penitent will enjoy now and in the future. The sense of achievement is most important in reconciling to others. It is a personal victory, because  pride and arrogance dominate that person no more, but the person is guided by the spirit of humility, meekness, and self controlled. Seen in that way, the divine law helps a person to prepare for living in peace, and harmony right now here on earth, and for enlightenment about God's kingdom, where human desires and suffering cease to exist.

Previous