Rules Redux

As an oldest son, following the rules seemed part of my DNA.  Obedience came naturally to me.  I was – and largely still am, almost without exception, the “good boy.”

I understand – and rightly so – that rules generally have a sound purpose.  That’s why they are rules.  They work!  Running a red light might save a few seconds here and there, but it’s a sure recipe for disaster in the long run.  Rules are the practical and necessary means to live in society with others.  Without rules, chaos reigns.

Rules also have a spiritual purpose.  Obedience to the rules can be a sign of humility.  Those consecrated to religious life take vows of obedience to their superiors.  When ordained, deacons and priests vow obedience to their bishop.  Pope Benedict, in his final address to the cardinals last week, vowed his obedience to whoever would be his successor.

 

The Hebrew people understood well this spiritual component to obedience.  As Moses reminds the people in this morning’s reading, their “statutes and decrees” came from God.  Obeying these laws not only ensured civility, but led them to the source of all happiness and peace.  This morning, we hear Jesus affirm the value of the Law in the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt 5:17-19).

 

Yet, Jesus also understands that, somewhat ironically, obedience can become not a sign of humility, but a source of pride.  This happens when we consider the law in simply a human, natural sense.  We lapse into subjective judgments about relative obedience to the laws.  For example, I often find myself quite proud of my rule-following, of being the “good boy.”  I convince myself that in being good, I am somehow better.  No humility there, only pride – pride that separates me from others, keeping me from loving others as God loves me. 

Hence, Jesus states that he comes not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  He does this by elevating the law – and our obedience to the law – beyond its mere natural, civil purpose to its super-natural, spiritual, God-given purpose.  For example, he continues in the Sermon by telling us – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.  When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”  (Mt 5:38-39) 

The original law – eye for eye, tooth for tooth – makes sense in a society which seeks natural justice by trying to assure that any retaliation is commensurate with the original injury.  But this law presumes that we can accurately assess the original injury and properly ration out proportionate retaliation.  Based on our fallible human nature, it is subject to the inherent weakness of human nature.

Jesus’ fulfillment of the law – turn the other cheek – teaches us to forego retaliation completely, eliminating our subjective, natural human judgment, and leaving judgment to the only One who can judge perfectly, for He is above nature. 

Obeying the rules may lead to a more civil society.  Obeying the rules may even earn us the respect and esteem of our fellow human beings.  If we’re willing to settle for that – as I often am more than willing to do – then we have already received our reward.  But Jesus wants so much more for me; he wants so much more for you.

Only by seeking and following the fulfilled Law – the Law embodied by Jesus who humbled himself to become one of us that we might know Him who gives the Law; the Law Jesus lived throughout his life on earth; the Law for which Jesus laid down his life and rose from the dead to affirm – only by humbling ourselves to submit to this super-natural Law, can we hope to be, as Jesus urges us to be, “perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48).