Meditation: Why do people tend to view the "law of God" negatively rather than positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch or Torah, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law because it placed burdens on people which God had not intended.
The essence of God's law
Jesus made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his
commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled. God's law is true
and righteous because it flows from his love, goodness, and
holiness. It is a law of grace, love, and freedom for us. That is
why God commands us to love him above all else and to follow in
the way of his Son, the Lord Jesus who taught us how to love by
laying down our lives for one another.
Reverence and respect
Jesus taught reverence for God’s law - reverence for God himself,
reverence for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents,
respect for life, for property, for another person's good name,
respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful
desires master and enslave us. Reverence and respect for God's
commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of
neighbor. What is impossible to humans is possible to God who
gives generously of his gifts and the Holy Spirit to those who put
their faith in him.
God gives us the grace, help, and strength to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think and judge as he judges, and to act as he acts with mercy, loving-kindness, and goodness. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness. As his followers we must love his commandments and hate every form of sin and wrong-doing. Do you seek to understand the intention of his law and to grow in wisdom of his ways?
The Holy Spirit transforms our minds and hearts
Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them the gift of
the Holy Spirit who writes God's law of love and truth on our
hearts. The Spirit teaches us God's truth and gives us wisdom and
understanding of God's ways. The Spirit helps us in our weakness,
strengthens us in temptation, and transforms us, day by day, into
the likeness of Christ himself. There is great blessing and reward
for those who obey God's commandments and who help others,
especially the younger generations, to love, respect, and obey the
Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with a burning love
and reverence for God's word so that you may grow day by day in
the wisdom and knowledge of God's truth and goodness.
"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts, minds, and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words, and deeds may be in accord with your Father's law and wisdom. And thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager, whose website is located at: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/