“God’s Law – An Enviable Gift” by Colleen O’Sullivan
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| Moses receiving the tablets (c. 1553), Tapestry by Jan de Kempeneer, based on a painting by Michiel Coxie, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons |
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? (Deuteronomy 4:6-7)
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. (Psalm 147:19-20)
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)
Piety
Thank you, Lord, for your words about loving you above all else and for your guidance on loving ourselves and our brothers and sisters. Grant us the ability to hear what you say and the wisdom to put it into action this very day.
Study
When I was a child, the commandments Moses was given seemed like anything but a gift. They were the checklist God used to tally up your failings. The sisters would draw a soul on the chalkboard, a round circle colored in solid white. But as you sinned, bits and pieces of the white fill were erased. A person with only venial sins on their account would have a soul that looked like a piece of Swiss cheese. Commit a mortal sin, however, and the entire thing was wiped off the board. We were told that periodically God checked on the state of our souls. I pictured my soul as an invisible plate residing somewhere near my diaphragm. I couldn’t feel it, so there was no way of telling how often God was sliding it out and scrutinizing it. Those were hardly the sort of thoughts or images that would have one thinking of the Law as evidence of God’s closeness to us or God’s love for us.
But as we grow up, hopefully, those flat, two-dimensional images give way to a fuller, more nuanced picture. Today God is the one who breathed life into me, named me, and called me his precious child. Yes, God is very aware of my sinfulness, but God isn’t keeping a book of marks against me as much as God is whispering, “Remember my love. Come back to me. Let me pick you up where you have fallen and set you on the right path. I desire that you be with me for all eternity.” This is the God the writer of Deuteronomy has in mind, one who wants to help us in every way, including giving us a set of statutes that clearly puts life into perspective. Faith in and obedience to God comes first. Loving and, therefore, treating our brothers and sisters with respect comes in a close second. The commandments are meant to help us do that. I can see why other people, worshipping other gods, would be envious.
Jesus didn’t come to throw out the gift his Father had given us. He came to fulfill the Law, to show us that the Law is all about love and loving relationships, between us and God, us and ourselves, and us and other people. Jesus faulted the Pharisees because they didn’t have love or mercy in their hearts when it came to dealing with others.
Action
Many of us resist rules and regulations or think we’re above them. We would like to set our own standards and make our own rules. But, imagine what a better place it would be if we all followed God’s Law. We could set aside all the idols that lead us into so much trouble because God would be the only object of our worship. There would be no more school shootings in the news or murders in our streets because we would follow God’s injunction not to kill. If we carried that out to the extreme, maybe there would be no more wars! Think how much trouble in the world is caused by not being faithful to one another. Affairs, broken marriages, heartbroken children, children born outside of marriage – think how many people would be happier if they let God’s laws be their guide. And what if we stopped telling lies about ourselves and others? The gossip columns and the publications sold at grocery store checkouts would disappear. Our judicial system could then be more about the truth than who’s got the smarter lawyer. Or what if we truly honored our fathers and mothers? The rampant disrespect for elderly people that has swept across our land would be no more.
When you are praying today, commit a few minutes to reflect with Jesus on your attitude toward God’s Law.
Editor's note: Apologies first to Colleen who delivered this reflection for you on time. However, due to a recent illness, the Lighthouse Keeper was off trying to replenish his supply of lamp oil during a short but fruitful stay at Fairfax INOVA Hospital. The wicks are now trimmed and the lights are back on. Your regularly scheduled reflections will re-commence for Saturday.
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