With executive orders flying out of the White House willy nilly, and accusations of “so-called” judges blocking these orders because they violate the Constitution of the United States, the readings for this coming Sunday on the law and the intent of the law is very timely. Were I to give a homily for this weekend, this is how I would approach it.
HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, 2017
When we look at a symbol what do we see? A symbol is more than just what is seen on the surface. Take the American flag as an example. On the surface, the American flag is a rectangular piece of cloth. Imprinted in the upper left corner of the flag is a blue field upon which 50 white stars are placed. The remainder of the flag has 13 bars of alternating red and white color running horizontally across the flag. On its surface value, the American flag is a very colorful collage of red, white and blue colors and shapes.
However, symbols cannot be taken just on their surface value. Each symbol possesses a depth of emotional and intellectual meaning for the one seeing it. The American flag will instill in the viewer a feeling of pride, a feeling of sacrifice, and a feeling of reverence. A Nazi Germany flag with a red field, with an interior white circle upon which is imprinted a black Swastika, instills in the viewer an emotion of dread and anger, and the knowledge of the atrocities committed by its followers.
The same approach we take to symbols must also be taken for laws. On the surface, laws are rules that citizens are required to follow. We have laws governing business and corporation transactions. We have laws governing human behavior. We have laws governing the protection of the environment. We have laws governing how goods are produced. We have laws governing the growing, selling, and preparation of the food we eat. On the surface, a law tells us what to do and we, as citizens, are required to follow it.
However, laws are more than just mere words on paper that human beings are required to blindly follow. Laws possess a hidden depth of meaning. At a much deeper level, laws are about the inter-relationships that human beings have with one another, and with the environment. Laws are created to either respect or disrespect these relationships. A law that discriminates or demeans another human being for whatever reason is considered a bad, or immoral law. A law that supports and protects another human being is considered a good, or moral law. It is the depth of meaning to law that Jesus is addressing in today’s gospel.
Religious law is about the inter-relationship that human beings have with God, and how that relationship is lived out in relationship with other human beings, and with God’s creation, including all of nature. Jesus teaches that there is more to law than just merely going through the motions of following it. Anybody can do that.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were good at obeying the letter of the law, so much so, that instead of worshiping God who created the law, they worshiped the letter of the law, not God. They were guilty of the sin of idolatry by making the law their false idol. Blind obedience to the letter of the law prevented them from seeing the relationship that God intended when the law was first created.
To drive this point home, Jesus gave the people some very extreme examples of how they had to get beyond the letter of the law so that they could be in touch with the “right relationship” that God intended by the law.
It is not enough to refrain from killing another human being. One must first address the anger that drives another human being to murder. One must not just refrain from committing adultery. One must first address the lust that drives a husband or wife to commit adultery. One must not just refrain from bringing a gift to the altar when involved in a personal conflict with another human being. One must first address the conflict and resolve and heal the brokenness that conflict has created with the other person. Then, only then, can a gift be brought to the altar. Jesus emphasizes that one must always look beyond the letter of the law to see revealed the intent behind the law, to see the relationship that must be respected and protected behind the law.
To just follow the letter of the law is not enough for salvation. Mere lip service to the law is not enough. To faithfully follow the law, we must allow the spirit of the law to penetrate our hearts, minds, and souls, allowing our right relationship with God to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions.
