Gospel Reading for the Day
From the holy Gospel according to
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| COVER OF THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE WITH JESUS, MOSES AND ELIJAH DURING THE TRANSFIGURATION. Image from google.com |
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. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandment and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
Personal Reflection on the Reading
Sharing for the Day
Laws are important in order to have peace, order and security in a community. They also help us achieve a vision and attain missions, goals and objectives. They also support the accomplishment of programs, projects and activities. Without laws, it is difficult to administer a big community such as a country.
However, human laws are not intended to disregard the natural laws or even just our common sense. When human laws conflict with natural laws and common sense, we will have trouble. For example, human legislators cannot pass a law repealing "the law of gravity". Furthermore, this imaginary law would be against common sense which tells us that "as we go higher, we'll fall harder". Human laws are only acceptable, implementable and "follow-able" if they are consistent with natural laws and common sense.
Another important thing that we must remember is that there is so-called 'spirit of the law', which means that a law is made not merely for the sake of having its letters read and followed verbatim, that is, word for word, but for something which letters could not fully express but truly intend. Let us take, for example, the [Philippine] Constitutional provision that the State shall protect life from conception [Article II, Section 12]. If we will take the 'spirit of the law' into consideration, the provision could be interpreted in this manner: life is sacred and the right to life is inviolable, therefore, it shall not be put in danger starting from its earliest stage! Under the natural law, it is clear that life processes must be respected and protected to ensure the continuance of the human race. Common sense dictates that one must not do anything that could harm human life so we tell pregnant women, even those who have just discovered their pregnancy after a month or two without having monthly period, to refrain from heavy manual labor to avoid miscarriage! It's truly amazing that human legislators would disregard natural laws and common sense through scientific technicalities and pass a law that would favor a group or an ideology to the detriment of a great concern we value so much and which we call life. One thing is certain and very significant: without life, we are nothing.
Men and women keeps on searching on their own for what could satisfy them, many times making use of the law in order to achieve this end, when God has already laid out the master plan for humanity to take in order to reach the goal of perfect happiness. The original sin clearly show that when humanity neglects the plan and the design of the divine, trouble and suffering follow. Laws are made in order to free, liberate and emancipate us from errors, mistakes and wrongs - not to suppress the the truth and the spirit of God which guides us toward perfection and holiness.
Let us remember that the Lord warned us about the importance of even the smallest of God's Laws. If we teach others not to follow them, we shall be considered the least in the Father's Kingdom. If we teach others to abide by them, then we shall be called greatest in the Father's kingdom. The warning is clear and as His friends and disciples we must never think twice about following God's Laws.
Let us remember that the Lord warned us about the importance of even the smallest of God's Laws. If we teach others not to follow them, we shall be considered the least in the Father's Kingdom. If we teach others to abide by them, then we shall be called greatest in the Father's kingdom. The warning is clear and as His friends and disciples we must never think twice about following God's Laws.
Application of the Message
[1] Prayer
Pray for the grace to focus more on the 'spirit of the law' rather than the 'letter of the law'.
[2] Abstinence
Abstain from anything that make you disobey a law though appearing to be obedient to it.
[3] Almsgiving
What can you share as a manifestation of implementing the 'spirit of the law'?
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