Learning and living in Law

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate a model for growing in spiritual health.

Ponder our blessings and growth

The Book of Deuteronomy cites the advantages of fidelity to the Law of the Covenant.

Advantages of Fidelity1

In Psalm 147 we are called to become the place of disclosure for God’s word.

* [Psalm 147] The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Ps 147:1, 7, 12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Ps 147:1–6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water.2

In the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew we encounter Jesus teaching about being the fulfillment of the Law.

* [5:17–20] This statement of Jesus’ position concerning the Mosaic law is composed of traditional material from Matthew’s sermon documentation (see note on Mt 5:1–7:29), other Q material (cf. Mt 18; Lk 16:17), and the evangelist’s own editorial touches. To fulfill the law appears at first to mean a literal enforcement of the law in the least detail: until heaven and earth pass away nothing of the law will pass (Mt 5:18). Yet the “passing away” of heaven and earth is not necessarily the end of the world understood, as in much apocalyptic literature, as the dissolution of the existing universe. The “turning of the ages” comes with the apocalyptic event of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and those to whom this gospel is addressed are living in the new and final age, prophesied by Isaiah as the time of “new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17; 66:22). Meanwhile, during Jesus’ ministry when the kingdom is already breaking in, his mission remains within the framework of the law, though with significant anticipation of the age to come, as the following antitheses (Mt 5:21–48) show.3 

Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that the scribes and Pharisees obeyed the letter of the law. He asks how can their holiness be lacking? It is because they lack mercy. They lack the ability to surrender their judgments of others. Holiness is not so much about obedience to the law as it is about having the heart that Jesus has.

We cooperate with that grace - here in the middle of Lent - by asking, "Lord, you know what needs healing in me. Help me name it today and let me ask you to come in and work your healing in me. Meet me there, in that place, dear Lord." Trusting in his grace, we can "practice" being more attentive to someone today. We can "practice" a newly desired kindness. We can "practice" complimenting, affirming, thanking someone today. Taking steps each day toward thinking of the needs of another close to me, and acting out of love, will help me be more and more open to thinking about the needs of those most in need in our world.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Making daily progress towards God,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 "As Christians, our task is to make daily progress toward God. Our pilgrimage on earth is a school in which God is the only teacher, and it demands good students, not ones who play truant. In this school we learn something every day. We learn something from the commandments, something from examples, and something from Sacraments. These things are remedies for our wounds and materials for our studies." (excerpt from Sermon 16A,1)5

In the Word Among Us Meditation on Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 we see another sort of model. It’s a model for growing in spiritual health, built around reading the Scriptures. Here it is: “Hear . . . observe . . . live” (Deuteronomy 4:1). If we hear God’s word and observe God’s word, we will enjoy a richer spiritual life.

First, there’s hearing God’s word...It’s best to read prayerfully, too...As you read, it may help to ask, “How is this passage revealing the Lord to me?”
Then there’s observing God’s word...Ask yourself, “In the light of this passage, what could I change about my life?” ... saying one encouraging thing to your spouse each day... Little by little, you’ll be making changes; over time these will add up to become real transformation.
Finally, live… as you make those little steps in patience, humility, and love, your relationships will become healthier, including your relationship with the Lord.6 

Friar Jude Winkler contrasts the benefits of the Law given in Covenant to Israel with the description of the Law by Paul of Tarsus. The Covenant is an incredible gift that detailed blessings and curses. Friar Jude notes how the most Jewish Gospel of Matthew presents an extension of the Mosaic Law in a spiritual dimension.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Thomas Merton as he observes that as we grow spiritually, we discover that we are not as separate as we thought we were. Separation from God, self, and others was a deep and tragic illusion.

 As we grow in wisdom, we realize that everything belongs and everything can be received. We see that life and death are not opposites. They do not cancel one another out; neither do goodness and badness. There is now room for everything to belong. A radical, almost nonsensical “okayness” characterizes the mature believer, which is why they are often called “holy fools.” We don’t have to deny, dismiss, defy, or ignore reality anymore. What is, is gradually okay. What is, is the greatest of teachers. At the bottom of all reality is always a deep goodness, or what Thomas Merton called “a hidden wholeness.” [1] ([1] Thomas Merton, “Hagia Sophia,” Ramparts Magazine (March 1963), 66. Also see In the Dark Before Dawn: New Selected Poems of Thomas Merton, ed. Lynn R. Szabo (New Directions: 2005), 65.)7

Our heritage in the Covenant and our second life in Christ offer direction to our journey of growth in our relationship with God and others.

References

1	(n.d.). Deuteronomy, chapter 4 - usccb. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/4
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 147 - usccb. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/147
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 5 - usccb. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). 3rd Week of Lent - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for .... Retrieved March 27, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/03/27
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: March 2019 - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved March 27, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/03/