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Old and New

Old and New

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


The pairing of today’s readings is fascinating.

In the first reading, St. Paul describes Mosaic Law, epitomized in the Ten Commandments, as the “ministry of death.”

Jesus in the gospel, on the other hand, is adamant that no letter or part of a letter of the Law will not disappear, and the Law must be followed. He came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.

So which is it? Is Jesus the fulfillment of the ministry of death? Does the old Law pass away, or remain and come to fruition?

Startling as it may sound, Jesus is, in a way, the fulfillment of this “ministry of death.” The old Law was a ministry of death inasmuch as the command to avoid sin was in itself sterile and fruitless, because compliance with this command could not bring life. Humanity remained doomed to death.

But in introducing the new “ministry of the Spirit,” the ministry of life, as it were, Jesus replaces the mortal destiny of man with the destiny of eternal life. He allows mortality to take away His life, and in doing so, opens the path to life in Him.

It is not that the Commandments themselves are forever linked to death. Rather, in linking them now to life, Jesus ushers in the new Law of the Spirit, and fulfills the very destiny of the old Law and the Commandments, which was never meant to remain as futility and death.

The difference between the old Law and the new Law is not the difference between following the Commandments and living in the Spirit. Rather, it is the difference between fulfilling the Commandments with no path to salvation, and fulfilling them in the fullness of the Spirit’s joy, with an eye to eternal life.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus for help in living as a New Testament Christian, not one of the faithful prior to His coming. Ask Him for the joy of confidence in the victory of the Spirit, that turns the fulfillment of God’s will in our lives into our focal passion and desire.

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Remain in His Love

Meditation

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


“Remain in my love.” If we follow His Commandments, we will remain in His love. So Jesus tells us in today’s gospel.

In the first reading, we see the early Church striving to do just that: Remain in His love, by keeping His Commandments.

Some of the believers focus on the Jewish Law–of which, as Jesus said, no letter or portion of a letter will ever be abolished (cf. Mt. 5:18). According to that Law, new believers should be circumcised.

St. Peter makes an impassioned plea, however, for new Gentile believers not to be burdened with the onus of circumcision–since they have received the Holy Spirit without having met this demand.

So, how is the Church to obey Jesus’ Commandments in this circumstance? How is it to remain in His love?

It turns out, the joyful truth is that remaining in Jesus’ love means welcoming every person, without conditions of culture or national social norms. As Jesus predicted in the Gospel, all sorts of people from all the byways would be welcomed to the wedding feast. Still, they would be thrown right out again if they failed to put on the “wedding garment” of belief in Him, and of His new Law of Charity.

The fruit of the new Commandment of Jesus, to love God and our fellow humans, is beautifully captured in today’s psalm, which captures the joy of welcoming the Gentiles into the flock of Christ: God’s marvelous deeds are proclaimed to all the nations.

So, how do we remain in Jesus’ love? How do we keep His Commandments? Through self-sacrificing love for our brothers and sisters, especially in all that favors their salvation in Christ.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to help you to live a life of selfless service, in obedience to His New Commandment. Ask Him to give you the wisdom to see past human customs and traditions to the heart of what His Law of selfless love requires of you.

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