The Law of Christ

Saturday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time/ September 4, 2021

photo credit: Christian Truth Center

Gospel: Luke 6:1-5

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus told the Pharisees that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. This means Jesus is above the law of the Sabbath which they strictly followed. And as the Lord of the Sabbath Christ ‘law of love, compassion, and care’ must be given emphasis… not the Sabbath’s prohibitions which oftentimes burdens the people. Therefore, the judgment that the Pharisees give toward the action of Jesus’ disciples (picking of grains during the Sabbath) cannot be validated, for it does not correspond to the ‘Law of Christ’ which prioritizes the people and their needs.

The Law of Jesus is the law of love, care, compassion, and etc. particularly to those who are in need; the poorest of the poor, the abandoned, neglected, rejected, and marginalized in societies. For the Lord Jesus, what His disciples did were not a violation of the Law of the Sabbath. The true violation of the Sabbath Law is to do nothing. Doing nothing, becoming lazy, or to idle during the Lord’s day is a violation of God’s law.

As the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus tries to correct the judgmental mind of the Pharisees. He tries to make them understand that true worship with the Father is ‘to live out their faith,’ by doing good towards their brethren, or by helping those who need most of their help especially during the Sabbath.

The same message is also given to us by the Lord. we cannot deny that oftentimes too, we are making judgments on others. We too are so much judgmental on others. We easily look on the outer behavior of others rather than our own interior life. We identify easily the mistakes of others rather than our own mistakes. We judge others as sinners, yet not seeing ourselves and our lives already being eaten by the sin of pride, greed, jealousy and etc. which rotting us slowly. And we become so hard on others that even a little lighten up of their sufferings and burdens in life, we don’t allow.

Friends, Jesus is reminding us that He is above all Laws. What we should follow is His Law – that is the law of Love, Compassion, Care and etc. We should not be too narrow for others in their observance of the law, rather, we should help them so that their burdens in life will be lighten.

Prayer

Abba, thank You for Your Love, Care, and Compassion towards us. Thank You for giving us Jesus as our example. May we live out always His will in our life and all His commandments. May we help others in their observance of the Law of Christ. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

“Enjoy with Christ”

Friday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time/ September 3, 2021

photo credit; Tee PUblic

Gospel: Luke 5:33-39

Friends, in today’s Gospel the Scribes and the Pharisees said to Jesus that His disciples just eat and drink while the disciples of John the Baptist and their disciples fast often and offer prayers. The Lord answered them that “it is not yet their time to fast for the bridegroom is with them, but days will come that the bridegroom will be taken away and those days they will fast.” After that, Jesus told them the parable of the new wine that must be poured into new wineskins so that it will not burst the wineskins and ruined it, but rather preserved.

Jesus, presented Himself as a bridegroom in a wedding feast. A groom which will be married to His own people. Therefore, it makes no sense that guests or His disciples will fast, for they should be feasting with the groom. They should share the joy and the happiness of the groom in His special day.

The problem of the Scribes and the Pharisees are two: Firstly; they focus only on the observance of the law without consideration of other people; and secondly, they regarded Jesus as the same category with other teachers and preachers like John the Baptist.

Law must be observed. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets as He told us boldly. However, Law must always be in accordance with the Love of God and Neighbor. To strictly follow the Law is good, however, it should always in a proper place, events, and time. To fast in a wedding celebration is not always appropriate. Who would dare to fast in a big celebration? Jesus, explained very well that His disciple could not fast for He is with them. They should enjoy and be happy for they have the Lord. However, when the Lord is taken with them, they should fast.

As a Bridegroom, Jesus is above and beyond all relationships. Therefore, He is not the same category with other teachers and preachers like John the Baptist. John was a holy man, a teacher and a preacher but he was ‘the voice’ of the Word, a voice that cried out in the wilderness, a voice that prepared the way of the Bridegroom. The problem of the Scribes and the Pharisees was putting Jesus in the same group with other preachers, and teachers like John the Baptist. They do not believe in Him as a Son of God, but just one of the teachers or a religious leader like themselves. Thus, they expected that His disciples should follow the protocols and observe it.

So, we can see that the Scribes and the Pharisees did not able to comprehend the reality that Jesus wants them to understand with their own eyes and of faith. Of course, they don’t believe in Christ, so it is really hard for them.

The meaning of the New wine poured into new wineskins is all about the teaching and preaching authority of the Lord – His Kingdom. As the new Adam, Christ teachings should be followed and obeyed by the new Israel, for His is the fulfillment of the promise that the Old Law was prophesied. The Old Wine and the old wineskins are the teachings of the Old Law which should not be mixed with the New. Jesus do not abolish the Old but He comes to fulfill them.

Friends, we have the Lord always in our lives. He comes to us every time we pray, every time we worship in the celebrations of the Sacraments, every time we help and care for others. He comes to us all the days of our lives. We should not waste our time not enjoying His company. We should not waste our time for other things which do not help us become closer to Him. Rather, we should strengthen more our relationship with Him, and do everything for His kingdom.

Prayer

Abba, Father, Thank you for giving us always our true happiness and joy – that is Christ. May we be faithful always towards Him and also to You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.