GOD'S LAW IS ABOVE HUMAN LAW

GOD’S Law is above Human Law

 

Yet you say, “If a person says to father or mother, ‘Any support you might have had from me is qorban’” (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. – Mark 7:11-12

 

Jesus stresses the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who make up their own laws that were contrary to God’s and impose them on people.

Today, we may easily see how wrong the Pharisees were at that time but we may also be falling into the same behavior if we are not careful.

Do we give alms to the less fortunate or say state laws prohibit it? Do we share our treasure to the victims of calamities or say corrupt people will simply take advantage of it? Do we help the church in building the kingdom of God or say the church is rich enough to stand on its own?

God’s law is love. It is better to commit an error in loving than obeying laws which take away the opportunity to love. Jess Santos (jesus_santos_07@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

When was the last time we chose to obey a certain law but lost an opportunity to share the love of God?

 

Dear God, grant me a generous heart that I may never pass up any opportunity to share Your Love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Rules that Paralyze Love

 

No community can live without rules. So it does not come as a surprise that religious communities have developed many of them. So do Judaism and Christianity. But in spite of all laws, attributed often to the gods or to God, most religions have split into different schools, denominations and sects. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the necessity and benefit of laws and rules. Reading today’s Gospel passage we cannot help but ask, what then made Jesus so angry in His discussion?

What is the essence of true religion, we may ask first. It is supposed to be a loving relationship between God and human beings. Especially Judaism and Christianity believe that God has initiated this relationship out of love for His creatures. A proper response to this divine initiative would be a loving attitude towards God, expressed in praise and thanksgiving and in doing what God asks His people to do. The Old Testament and Christ then made it clear that this love of God is expressed best by showing concern, compassion and love towards fellow human beings, especially towards the poor and marginalized members of the society.

It now becomes clear why Jesus was so upset — the religious leaders of His time understood as essence of their religion the proper performance of rituals, ceremonies, laws, rules and regulations. Gratitude to God was not expressed by love of God and neighbor but by strict observance of man-made rules which paralyzed or even “killed” love.

I was told a story about a very pious elderly lady. One Sunday her neighbor, a woman with an infant, complained of severe stomach ache and needed to see a doctor. She asked the pious lady to come over and take care of her infant. But the lady answered, “I really pity you. But I am very sorry, it is Sunday and I must go to Mass.”

Just reading today’s Gospel we know how harsh Jesus reacts in such situations. Keep the laws and rules by all means but do not allow them to paralyze your love. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

Reflection Question:

Do I have the tendency to excuse myself from active love and care by hiding behind a rule or a law?

 

Lord, Your harsh words hit me, too. Give me the wisdom to discern always when I have to keep a law and rule and when I have to transgress it in order to help a needy person.

 

St. Alexander, pray for us.