The Law of God

Once again Jesus has an encounter with the Pharisees, in Mark chapter seven.  Mark describes how the Pharisees and the experts of the law surround Jesus to inquire why his disciples do not wash their hands.  This is for the Pharisees not merely a matter of personal hygiene but following the Mosaic Law.  The only other group that surrounds Jesus are the crowds, who are seeking healing and wholeness.  But this group is not looking for inspiration.

In these themes it would seem that Jesus is suggesting that following the law is not as important as loving each other.  But this is not the case.  The new law that Jesus gives is a matter of reforming our entire selves so as to be imitators of the dignity we have received.  The Paschal Mystery remains for us a powerful symbol of God's love and mercy for the whole world.  But it is also a mystery we are called to imitate by forsaking our needs and concerns and faithfully following the way of Jesus Christ.

To be sure the Pharisee type truly believe that they are doing God's will by doing religious acts.  The difficulty is that these actions are not converting their hearts.  They are not following through in caring for the widows and orphans, seeking justice for the anawim, or offering compassion towards the sick and grieving.  Or faith response is one of justice and peace is we are truly following the law of Jesus Christ.

Certainly this is more than the "kissy-face" love that we might witness on television or in the movies.  It is the kind of love that challenges us to seek goodness for others, to recognize each other as sacred, and to strive for holiness.  Our life becomes one of conversion and transformation.  We noursih and nurture one another so that there might be true growth and goodness in the name of the Lord.

More so we do not allow room in our lives for the wickedness of Sin and Evil.  Not only do we respond to the Evil which we see around us, but that which hides in the darkness of our lives.If we have been made children of the light, then we need to act like it.  True 'orthodoxy' is fulfilling the law of the Lord in our lives and by our lifestyle.  We cannot keep a count and amount, but look for ways to serve God by serving one another.  It really is what comes out of us that matters.