Perfection and Powerful Problems

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some food for consideration of the praise which is offered to God for His Law. The conclusion of the Book of Deuteronomy expresses the format of Covenant which presents the blessings and curses of the decision of the people to adhere to the Law of God. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the date of this text around 600 BCE and the revelation of God who seeks a life giving relationship with Israel who will be the example of a people chosen by God to all the nations. The explanation in the text of some of the duties expected of those under the Law may strike us as excessively detailed. We reflect on the Pharisees of Jesus time, who are criticized for the legalism which marked their religious observance. When we cry out “just tell me what to do”, we often prefer the detailed answer specific to time, task and treasure. The psalm selection today is a small part of many verses of praise to God for the ordinances that God has given whereby we may live diligently observing them. The path of detailed guidance is often assumed to be superior to the life which seeks an overall guiding principle for action. The tension between these positions is important. The exhortation that Jesus makes, as Friar Jude notes with Divine authority, to love those who persecute us is in the nature of a difficult overall guiding principle. It is likely only achievable through the active life of the Spirit within our being. The perfection we seek is not the perfectionism of the Pharisee where we adhere to the letter of the Law but the perfect Love of the Father who sees all humanity as His children and only through our communion with the Trinity might we experience such Love.