Law of Love

I was going to write on another subject today, but a very interesting list came to my attention this morning. So that other subject will have to wait for another day.

The list of which I speak is titled "Ten Facts Most Catholics Don't Know (But Should!)" by Gary Zimak, Founder of Following the Truth Ministries. When I first heard Gary's list of facts I was very intreagued. However, one of the comments following the article, which was posted by a returning Catholic, took the perspective that the list was somehow discouraging or even a list of oppressive laws. Now I must say that this way of thinking is not foreign to me, seen as I once thought this way as a Protestant.

Even if this was just a list of laws. What is so bad with that? I mean, don't we all hold the Ten Commandments in high regard?  Even so, the view that the Catholic Church is a legalistic institution that just tells its members what to do with no sensitivity is believed by many outside and inside the Church. And the truth is that no one really "likes" laws.  Well except for those who are really holy. People like King David (or Psalmist) who said, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Ps. 1:1-2)

Now hold it, that was the Old Testament. We are living in the New Testament now. Well okay, then how about the fact that Jesus himself held people to a higher standard than the law (i.e. adultery, murder, etc.) and said, "For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished." (Matt. 5:18)

But didn't Jesus want us to live by the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law? Okay, then what is the spirit of the Law? What is God's heart's intention for the Law? What is he really getting at or what does he want? In one word, OBEDIENCE. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) And whose will was Jesus accomplishing? The Father's. So Jesus is essentially telling us that if we love him (God) we will obey the Fathers will. And who gave us the law (which Jesus came to fulfill)? The Father.

Okay, so God wants obedience to his law. Isn't that still legalistic? Yes, if you don't recognize the Father's love for you. But if you see how God's law is the manifestation of his love for us and meant to protect us, then the Law becomes liberating.

God's love wrapped up in his laws can be seen when Jesus tells us the greatest commandments. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22:36-40) God's love can also be seen in his first command that we not eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but the disobedience of our first parents damaged our love for God.

God always has our good in mind, especially with his laws. And in giving the Church the ability to bind and lose on Earth, Jesus was giving us the great gift of a Church to guide us as a loving mother. Though we may not like what our mother says, she has our best in mind. So shouldn't we love the instruction of the Church which comes from God?