[1]Laws are an
essential part of society. They regulate society and help protect people and
our environment. However, now and then a state’s legislation will pass a law
that comes across as simply weird, unnecessary, or just plain dumb. Here’s a sampling: In the state of Florida,
- It is illegal to park in an intersection, at a crosswalk, or on the edge of a curbed street.
- Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
- It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
- A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday.
- The law states you must pay for the parking meter if you tie an elephant, goat or alligator to it.[2]
Silly as these might be, somewhere, someone had to do
something that lawmakers found it necessary to write the law for good order and
public safety.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come
to abolish the law … I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17) Jesus
the divine, messianic authority fulfills the law, not by abolishing it or
making it easier, but by transforming it.
The unstated supposition here is not only that the law of Moses has been
transformed, but that Jesus’ disciples are transformed by the Messiah.
For Jesus it’s not just the act of murder that is
prohibited, but the anger that leads to it; it’s not just the act of adultery, but
the lust that leads to it; it’s not just divorce, but the way we treat those
who have experienced divorce, how we restore and protect their humanity. Jesus recreates the law not as a list of rule
and regulations but as the evidence of our deepest yearning for God’s way,
rejecting any thoughts or behaviors that draw us away from right relationship with
God and neighbor.[3] When these relationships are right, Jesus
says there is no need to swear by God or anything else, because the simple “yes”
or “no” should express the truth of a disciples word, like that of Jesus himself.
In praying the evening psalms on Thursday, I came across
these words, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give
you counsel with my eye upon you. Do not
be like a horse or mule, without understanding; with bit and bridle their
temper is curbed, else they will not come to you.” (Ps 32:8-9) All too often we
can get locked into “the law says…” pick the topic (i.e. divorced, had an
abortion, or upholding civil laws that are contrary to our religious values) and
be so rigid that the accused are judged and demeaned unworthy, some even
excommunicated. Souls in our communities,
often carry the wounds of their sins for years, there’s always more to their
stories that only God knows. More and
more often we are hearing stories of some having the Sacraments being publicly
withheld. This is NOT God’s way of
calling His children back to the fold, to mercy, forgiveness, to reconciliation
with God and neighbor. We don’t always
know the whole story, the Canon lawyers I've sat in class with are reference the last sentence of the last paragraph in the Code of Canon Law: “the salvation of
souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before
one’s eyes.” (Can 1752)
“The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands
man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none
does he give license to sin.” (Sir 15:20) The commandments of God are intended
to point toward the way of life. God
cares not only about our actions; he looks deeper. In the court of heaven, we are acquitted or
condemned according to what goes on in the depths of our hearts and mind.
The way to the Kingdom of heaven is not merely to follow the
rules, as if they themselves were the point.
Rather it is to become formed into people whose wills reflect the values
embodied by the law (which of course does not excuse one from keeping the
commandments).[4]
[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986. Scriptures: Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10;
Matthew 5:17-37.
[2] Spatz Law Firm, PL. “10 Weird Laws in
Florida You Probably Don't Know About”
posted September 9, 2019.
[3] Living the Word, Year A, © 2019. John R.
Barker, OFM & Karla J. Bellinger. World Library Publications, Franklin
Park, IL..
[4] The Word on the Street © 2016. John W.
Martens. Liturgical Press, Collegeville,
MN.
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