Law of the Spirit

June 11 Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle

Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3; Psalm 98:1-2, 4, 5, 8, 11; Matthew 5:17-19

instead of Wednesday of Week 10 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1Kings 18:20-39; Psalm 16:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6; Matthew 5:17-19

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

Jesus said his New Law is not meant “to abolish but to fulfill” the morality people already knew.

The Ten Commandments are rules for authentic human living. They bring out the best in human nature. But they are rules for sub-Christian behavior. The New Law teaches super-human behavior.

The Ten Commandments make sense. Anyone who walks by the light of reason will follow them. Deuteronomy 4:8 rightly boasts: “What other great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws?” But the New Law of Jesus is beyond human understanding: “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.” And beyond human will power: “God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

Those who are “unspiritual” cannot grasp the New Law. They “do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 1:25; 2:14).

The New Law cannot be spelled out. As “prophets” consecrated by Baptism, Christians are “ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2Corinthians 3:6). The New Law calls us to “let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5) and apply it creatively to circumstances.

PRAY: “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!”

PRACTICE: Practice thinking like Christ.