“Do not think that I have come to abolish
the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish
but to fulfil…”
Perhaps the most tragic misunderstanding of Christian faith is to think that it’s all about rules and regulations. This is a reduction of faith to moralism and legalism. Unfortunately church leadership has too often been satisfied when parishioners simply adhere to the letter of the law, leading people to believe that faith is about nothing more than keeping rules.
A quick reading of today’s gospel might, on first glance, reinforce this misunderstanding when Jesus teaches that “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.”
But as recent popes have repeatedly emphasised, “Christianity is not a collection of truths to be believed, of rules to be followed, or of prohibitions. Seen that way it puts us off. Christianity is a person who loved me immensely, who asks for my love. Christianity is Christ.” (Pope Francis 23 January 2019)
This does not mean that the law is not important, but rather that adherence to good law cannot be the goal in itself. Good law is essential because it provides us with sound direction and gives us a consistent and objective measure of our internal spiritual health. For example the person who fails to forgive others (especially when this is externally visible in their behaviour and conversation) has capacity for inner growth and healing.
As we reflected yesterday, this forgiveness is not easy. But the burden of carrying resentment and hate is too damaging for the one who does not forgive. When we decide to forgive we give ourselves freedom.
The people of the Old Testament had a healthy appreciation of their need for law. When Moses came down the mountain with ten commandments the people were delighted because now they knew the fast track to harmony with God and with each other. They understood that]these laws God had given them was a handbook for healthy happy human living. These Old Testament people were clearly delighted because they immediately enshrined the tablets of stone on which the finger of God had written in a gold case (the Ark of the Covenant) which they huddled around both as they slept at night and as they journeyed through the desert by day.
A world without law is not a paradise of freedom. It is a land of anarchy.
Imagine if a computer hacker hijacked the city traffic-light signals at rush hour one morning. There would be chaos, accidents and road deaths as all intersection lights turned green at the same moment. We rely on the traffic lights working with precision in order for us to get to our destinations safely. But the one who spends the night admiring the traffic lights will never get to dinner with friends. The law is a sign that points us to to a destination and enables us to journey and arrive more easily and in safety.
Perhaps the most helpful sign that we have in life is the witness of the people who surround us. If we are to remain healthy and grow in maturity of faith, we need to spend good time with people who are also seeking to live more deeply in relationship with Jesus. This does not mean finding people who are perfect, but rather spending time in company and conversation with other weak and vulnerable people who are on the same journey of faith seeking the same destination.
I am delighted to notice this good company and conversation happening in the comments section of this Food For Faith website. Here a growing number of people are sharing their experience of life with God and many people comment to me that this is a helpful and encouraging part of Food For Faith. This is more than I had ever hoped for from the website and I am grateful for your sharing and participation. Thank you all for your comments. And if you haven’t made a comment yet please don’t hesitate to do so whenever you feel moved to.
This morning, in response to yesterday’s reflection on forgiveness as a decision, one reader encouraged another suggesting that forgiveness doesn’t require forgetting. This is a wonderfully freeing fact…the old “forgive and forget” saying is not only unhelpful – it is wrong! We don’t have the power to forget. The more we try to forget something the more it will stay with us!
We need to forgive – that is to make a decision to forgive, and we need to remember that all God requires of me is my decision to forgive others as God has already forgiven me. I need to remember that even though I do not yet feel forgiving, God is using my decision to forgive as an invitation for his ongoing healing activity in my life.
An Invitation
- Consider that the law that you know to be the law of Jesus Christ (and the church community to which you belong) is a gift. Make a decision to live the letter and the spirit of every one of these laws 100% for the next week. Then every morning and evening ask yourself if you feel more or less happy, more or less fulfilled, more or less in relationship with Jesus Christ. You might be surprised at what you notice in your life.
I like your idea of blessing a person & using a primary colour, thank you.
Thank you Father John for all these beautiful inspirations.
Morning Father. What a marvellous analogy with the traffic lights and an easy one to share with my non religious friends and colleagues. Bad traffic is something everyone can relate to. My son, living in Canada with closed borders and no flights, hoping for residency has for the first time I think turned to prayer for comfort and hope. St Monica coming through for me! There is such joy sharing our faith with friends and family.
There are times when overwhelmed by memories of past hurts that it is necessary to learn how to forgive myself. Throwing myself into The arms of a loving God who has forgiven me .
It is so good to be reminded about all of these points and to discuss it
I remember saying I forgave somebody but the feelings Kept coming and I realised I had to keep saying and praying I forgive over and over it was then I received the peace of the lord
Trish, this is so true, every time the ‘evil’ one brings to mind the hurt that my sister did to me I have to repeat that I forgive her (and myself, just encase), I need to not dwell on that thought and I must also pray that God will eventually help me to forget the pain and only remember the lesson and guide me as to how to handle encounters with her in the future.
In my work as a Counsellor over the last 30 years, I have been privileged to observe closely how forgiveness and reconciliation break the cycle of suffering for people. Healing from personal trauma into healing narratives is phenomenal – forgiveness is the light in the centre of our mind and heart, the pathway to happiness. +
Virginia
The effects of holding onto unforgiveness are real. Pain and resentment eat away at you and so many missed blessings! It is soo good to realise you can forgive someone who has died even too.
Will try and pray each day…Thank you.
Something I have found helpful….
Forgiving is not forgetting, it is letting go of the hurt.
Thankyou, Fr John, for this Lenten journey.
Barbara
It is encouraging Fr John the deep and meaningful reflection that guide us daily during these days of Lenten obersavances. It takes us as good companions with each other to make sure that we all get to the destination. Through the daily journey we stop, getting through the chaos of the pathway and with good company we encourage each other to get going and moving along. It is a choice and it is a gift.
Fr. John, your reflection yesterday on forgiveness certainly touched a very sensitive nerve in us all. I note that most of today’s responses are about forgiveness as well.
But of course, the law is about forgiveness, us forgiving each other and God forgiving us. I tend to look at the law as a road, with uneven paving stones that can trip us up if we don’t watch our step, leading to our destination. Off that road are many side roads, some marked one-way others no exit and no entry or shortcut. We often take these roads because they look easier or better scenery. But in the end, we have to turn around and come back (repentance). If we could follow the road without tripping or deviating Jesus would not have had to come and die on the cross for us as we could save ourselves by the law.
I fear Fr. John that if I were to take your invitation to follow the law 100% I would feel a bit depressed at the number of times I missed the mark, but far more grateful to Jesus for his sacrifice for me on the cross.
Thank you for the words on “forgive & forget” as I have often worried that although
I forgive – or have the desire to forgive – if I do not also forget the hurt caused, then is the forgiveness genuine. It is also a comfort to know that you can forgive someone even though they may have left this life years ago without your being able to forgive – and forget !
Our Lord said of the Pharisees ‘you tithe of mint and rue’ Lk 11:42 and yet they missed the love and compassion of God. In the OT God showed endless patience with Israel and eventually sent His Son. Thank you John for continuing the theme of God’s forgiveness and love – as a child of the rules based theology it has taken me a lifetime to be able to move freely in the love of Christ which when I entered into it fully brings its own reward of peace and sense of purpose as I learn to do ‘the will of the Father’.
While we cannot forget we need to know that “not forgetting”
is not taking the hurt and polishing it daily but rather leave it on the ground to rust and rot
Thank you for the wonderful thoughts it daily brings a smile to my face and I do love the wonderful comments that others add God Bless all.
Amen thanks for your words of Wisdom and teaching helping me to learn to forgive always which is sometimes so difficult so that we can try and forget what hurts we have had in the past and ask Jesus Our Lord to forgive us for our sins Amen
Thank you for your thoughts on forgiveness