This is a photo of a typical MRT platform. Where is the best place to stand? Area A, Area B, or Area C? According to the rules and regulations of the station, we should stand behind the yellow line while waiting for the train. This means that we’re not allowed to stand in Area A, which is beyond the yellow line. And this also means that technically we’re allowed to stand in Areas B and C.
Now these rules – in this example, the rule concerning the yellow line – are made for the safety of the passengers. And if the purpose behind the rule is the safety of the passengers, then it is obvious that although we’re allowed to stand in Areas B and C, it is safer to remain in Area C. Standing in Area B is technically permissible or ‘legal’. But what is permissible may not always be beneficial. Although standing just behind the yellow line is OK according to the rules, what if we feel drowsy and accidentally fall asleep and drop onto the track? This is of course an exaggerated example but the point is this: Why should we be so sticky with the rules and “stand on the edge” when we have high risks of getting ourselves into unforeseen dangers? Although we don’t “cross the line”, keeping ourselves much further from the line is more beneficial – and in this case, it’s more life-giving, literally.
Live Life, Don’t Compromise
For the example of the yellow line above, we don’t need to be great theologians to know that the safest place to stand is Area C. But many times we fail to see this when it comes to our faith and moral living. God, the Author of life, has kindly given us many guidelines so that we can live our life in the best manner possible. These guidelines, or laws or commandments, have been given to us through the Old Testament prophets, through the teachings of Jesus himself, through the Church inspired by the Holy Spirit. But more often than not, we either don’t follow these guidelines [standing in Area A] or we observe merely the minimum requirements, just so that we don’t “cross the line” [standing in Area B]. Somehow, we prefer not to live life to the max.
Letter vs Spirit
This is the message of Jesus in today’s Gospel [Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Mt 5:17-37]. He is comparing the strict observance of the letter of the law versus the understanding and living the spirit of the law. To illustrate his message, he uses a few examples, and one of them concerns adultery. The letter of the law prohibits adultery, but if we understand the spirit behind the law, even looking at a woman lustfully is committing adultery in the heart. Jesus himself says in the beginning of the Gospel that he didn’t come to abolish the law but to bring life and meaning into it – and more importantly, to bring life and meaning to those who live out the spirit of the law. And going back to our analogy of the yellow line in the MRT platform, these are the people who happily remain in Area C not just because they’re obedient to the rules, but because they understand and are convinced of the purpose of the rule. These people are the ones that are actually liberated even to dance around without the risk of falling into the tracks. What more, they can even relax on the benches that are provided by the station! As today’s Responsorial Psalm exclaims: They are happy who follow God’s law!
The WHY
Therefore, it is pretty obvious that living our life in accordance to the commandments of God will only lead us to experience life to the fullest. But this must be equally emphasized: that it is crucial for us to know the whys of these commandments, the spirit and purpose behind them. Far too often we Catholics have been keeping the commandments without understanding why. So a lot of us end up feeling imprisoned by them.
Choose Life!
The final point of my reflection is about choice. And I will let the word of God to speak for itself as I quote a few verses from today’s First Reading:
“If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power.
He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.”
[Ecclesiasticus 15:15-17]
These verses from the book of Ecclesiasticus are obvious and self-explanatory. At the end of the day, we’re all free to make our own decisions and choices. But as I emphasized earlier, we need to understand the meaning of the commandments in order to avoid making blind decisions. And if we really want to comprehend the spirit of God’s Law, we have to remember not to depend on our human abilities, but on the help of the Holy Spirit, as reminded by St Paul in today’s Second Reading:
“These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.”
[1 Cor 2:10]
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