FAVOR ME WITH YOUR LAW
"People could not live with one another if there were
not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another... as a
matter of honor, one person owes it to another to manifest the truth." (Thomas
Aquinas)
In today's Gospel
acclamation we proclaim, "Incline my heart, O God, to Your decrees; and
favor me with Your law" (Ps 119:36). What does it mean to
"fulfill" the law, that is, to bring it to its fullest expression?
Some have argued that Christ Jesus is presenting an ideal beyond reach of all
except for the most heroic. But that misses the point. According to early
Christians, Matthew's Gospel account of the Sermon on the Mount was used as a
catechism for the newly baptized children of God. Therefore, it was preceded by
conversion, by being overpowered by the Good News.
The radical way of
life that Jesus outlined is intended for those who are already, in Paul's
words, "in Christ...a new creation" (2 Cor 5:17). Thus, reconciled
with God, they are able to live a new life. Living this new life helps us to be
faithful witnesses of the truth. Jesus teaches the disciples the unconditional
love of truth. He speaks against bearing false witness and all forms of
untruthfulness that can cause us great harm. St. Thomas Aquinas said,
"People could not live with one another if there were not mutual
confidence that they were being truthful to one another... as a matter of
honor, one person owes it to another to manifest the truth."
In the Responsorial
Psalm we acclaim, "The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your
iniquities, and He heals all your ills" (Ps 103:8a, 3). He brings us to
new life if we live by His law of love. May God's word of truth penetrate our
hearts!