“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
29th October 2021
------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY, THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Rom 9: 1-5; Ps 147: 12-15, 19-20; Lk 14: 1-6
------------------------------------------------
LOVE IS THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW
In the Gospel passage today, Jesus “breaks” a Jewish law – he heals a man who had dropsy on the Sabbath! In Jewish culture, the custom on the Sabbath was to refrain from every physical activity on that holy day. For them, the Sabbath was to be a day of rest. One’s attention was to be on God alone. In their obsession to be faithful to this law, however, they forgot another essential aspect of the law, to love. Did God ever say not to do acts of love on the Sabbath?
Jesus once again confronts the rules of his culture to teach the truths of God. While he was at the table in the house of a Jewish leader, a man suffering from dropsy was brought in and laid before him. Jesus did not immediately heal the man. First, he chose to dialogue with the Pharisees and the learned scholars to help all understand the meaning of his actions. However, there prevailed a tensed mood and a cold, formal set-up. Their minds were filled with doubts and questions and the atmosphere was silent rather than laughter and cheer. He asked them if it was proper or lawful to heal on the Sabbath. They, however, refused to respond, because they refused to learn. Jesus then healed the man and set him free from his infirmity.
Laws are important. However, the purpose and intent of every law is to ensure safety, security and peace for all people. Law must never stop anyone from loving. Will God ever stop loving man on the Sabbath, or be displeased with a man for loving? “Love and do what you will” said St Augustine in a summation of the relationship between love and law.
“Love is patient, love is kind. ...it keeps no record of wrongs. ...but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Cor 13:4-8). In other words, love is the fulfilment of the law as it leads to all that is good, which is the very purpose of every law.
Response: O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
Copyright ©2013-2021 ©Springs of Living Water by ® http://springs.carmelmedia.in
No comments:
Post a Comment