Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17
In the first reading today, we hear Moses entrusting the people with the Law of the Lord and encouraging them to follow it and let it be the foundation for all they do. In Deuteronomy 4:6-7 he says, “Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.' 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?”
The law was not made by God to punish us with a list of thou shalt nots. It provides a guideline for how to live that helps us become more like God and less selfish and sinful. It is like an owner’s manual that reminds us that if we want to function properly, there are things we do and don’t do. We don’t put diesel fuel in a car built for unleaded gas because we know that will cause damage. Well, we shouldn’t allow sin to enter a body that was created to hold the Holy Spirit. And just as important, the law, when followed carefully, shows others around us our wisdom and draws them closer to the God we serve. Have you ever considered that your life, lived in union with God, can draw others to Him?
When Jesus today speaks of the law, He tells His disciples that the law is not going to disappear but be fulfilled. They lived with 613 laws (the mitzvot in Hebrew) that were penitential like animal sacrifices, circumcision, kosher laws, ritual cleansing and more. But when Jesus died, He fulfilled these because He was the ultimate sacrifice. Even though the ceremonial laws are not needed anymore, the moral law stays the same. God still calls us to follow the Ten Commandments because in them, we find that owner's manual. The moral law brings forth the wisdom of how to worship and love our God and each other. Jesus fulfills this in His example of total self-gift for us and we are called to emulate that in our lives for those around us.
Think about how when we sin, we bring chaos to our lives, but when we stay true to Jesus and His teachings, we have more peace. We can all reflect this Lent on how we are taught by the Church to bring some order to our crazy busy lives through the practice of giving something up, more regular prayer times, and giving to the poor. Jesus says that when we obey and teach these commandments to others, we will be called the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. What a goal to reach for!
Reflection Questions: This Lent, take some time to look over the top ten (commandments) and see where there may be room for growth and improvement. Be honest with yourself. Try not to see them as thou shalt nots, but as wisdom and truth that will help you live the life that God intends and will bring you the most joy and fulfillment. How could this change everything for you?
Prayer: Lord, I’ll be honest. Sometimes the “Do Nots” seem to outnumber the “Dos” and I feel like I can only see all the things You want me to give up as a follower of Jesus. Help me to replace the negatives with the positives and see the beauty of living a life with less selfishness and less sin, and more self-gift and more healing. Amen.