September 1: Laws of Love

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

When someone mentions laws and/or commandments, we usually think of them as burdens that we have to bear to be good citizens or church members. But if you listen carefully to the first reading from Deuteronomy, you get the sense that the laws Moses presented to the people of Israel were gift from God, something to be proud of. Moses gives two reasons for this.

Moses presents the laws as wise and just, so much so that other nations would praise and envy the Israelites for having such laws. No doubt some of the nations around at the time had kings who used the law to keep themselves in power and make them wealthy. As the Jews had no kings at this time, they only had to obey God’s laws. Moses’ command not to add or subtract from the laws was a reminder that they were directly from God, not an interpretation by Moses.

The origin of the laws was the second reason they were revered. They showed how much God cared for his people, that he would guide them in their everyday lives and hear their prayers. Though God is greater than they could comprehend, he is also nearer than we think. Which brings us to Jesus, who shows us the Father and who made the law both simpler and more challenging?

Jesus simplified the laws and commandments by showing us that loving God with all our being and loving our neighbors as ourselves was the basis of all God’s laws. But it is also more difficult because it is no longer enough to simply avoid hurting or cheating others. We are to love one another as Jesus loves us. That means reaching out to those in need, forgiving our enemies, caring for the sick or dying, teaching our children that love is more important than money. 

And don’t forget the first part of Jesus’ command: loving God. How often do we even think about Him, thank Him for all we have, or take time to listen to Him? Do we love Jesus so much that we want other people to know him too? Do we thank him for the people who love us? Do we ask his Holy Spirit for the courage to spread the gospel? If we are willing to accept the challenge to love God and neighbor, we will not have to worry about breaking laws.

Tom Schmidt