The Ten Commandments, a divine directive

Third Week of Lent: Wednesday

Matthew 5: 17-19

‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

Reflection

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law of love, his mission was to bring salvation to all God’s people, and to help all people to draw closer to their heavenly Father.  This was prophesised by Jeremiah when he wrote, ‘Their prince shall be one of their own, their ruler shall come from their midst’ (Jeremiah 30: 21) His mission was to let the people know God desire for them, ‘you shall be my people, and I will be your God.’ (Jeremiah 30:22). We read that the prophet, Moses was an intermediary with God. He received the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 31:18), these divine directives showed the people how they should live good and holy lives that would enable them to live in right relationship with God and each other. The prophet Isaiah encouraged the people to ‘Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.’ (Isaiah 55:6-7) This is how some of the people in the Old Testament lived when they followed the guidance of the prophet Isaiah, and it is how we are to live today. Our hearts are to seek God and his kingdom and not to be distracted by the many temptations that draw us away from him. Pope Francis regularly asks us to do this when he addresses the crowds or write his encyclical letters to the faithful. Speaking at the Angelus on 16 February 2020 he asked the people to live the law of God in their hearts so that they may  be free people and that by doing so “we understand that when we do not love our neighbour, we kill ourselves and others to some extent, because hatred, rivalry and division kill fraternal charity which is the basis of interpersonal relationships.” That's true not only for war, he said, but "also for gossip, because the tongue kills." He asks us to entrust ourselves with gratitude to God’s grace as this is how we will be able to live holy lives that give honour and glory to God.

The law of God may also be reflected in the constitutions and laws of a country where the fundamental principles by which the state is governed are outlined. The constitution describes the main institutions of the state and defines the relationship between these institutions, for example, between the executive, legislature and judiciary. It places limits on the exercise of power and sets out the rights and duties of citizens so that the dignity and well-being of all people can be upheld. In a Christian state the principles of the gospel should be upheld in the expression and implementation of the constitution and should stand as a benchmark by which the moral code of the country can be measured. Today many migrants and refugees arrive at the shores of different countries and receive a mixed reception. Some nations are very welcoming and generous, others less so. The law of God instructs all on how the poor are to be treated, ‘For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 15:11) and whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God Proverbs (14:31) In these practical examples we see where the mission of Jesus and the responsibilities of each person uphold the law of God and the dignity of each one.

At this time of Lent is your manner of life pure so that you may see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Do you uphold the laws of God and your country to honour the dignity of its citizens.

What reparation may you need to make for breaches of the constitution in your welcome of the stranger.

Be assured that as you deepen your life of prayer and service during this Lenten season, ‘he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on the day of festival.’ (Zephaniah 3:17)

Prayer

I ask for the grace to draw closer to God each day of my life.

May I follow God’s law and keep it with all my heart.

May prayer be the bedrock of my life;

The food of my soul,

The joy of my heart,

this day and always, Amen.

Third Week of Lent: Wednesday