In the first
reading for this week Ezra presents the Law of God on a major feast day,
perhaps the New Year, perhaps what later generations would call Yom Kippur[1];
Ezra continually tells the people not to be sad, but instead be full of joy[2]. The
Law of God results in joy, not sadness[3].
In the Gospel,
Jesus begins his public preaching in the equivalent of a synagogue in his own
town. These two readings assert that the Law of God, The Word of God should be
received in joy not in gloom. The Law of God is seen as liberating, not
something that is restrictive.
Let us be honest
now. This is not how most of us view commandments, Church teachings, etc. But
if we really think about it, we can understand the joy and the freedom we have
received when we have adhered to the principles of our faith life, our
morality.
Many people in
our times have demanded a freedom from all codes of moral conduct. How happy
are these people? Can a person be a member of a family he or she loves and
receive love from that family if that person flaunts the basic code for living
in the family? A person cannot be happily married and at the same time
unfaithful. A person cannot grow in love and be basically selfish. If a lack of
rules brought happiness, then why do so many commit suicide? If a code of morality is supposed to be
somber and oppressive, then why are the happiest people in the world those
whose lives revolve around a very strict following of the Lord? Some of the
happiest people I have ever met are the Trappist monks. They have to get up in
the middle of the night. They have set
hours for work and prayer. Their diets are restricted. They take vows of silence. Yet, they are
happy. They are people whose lives point people to the true source of
happiness. The monks are happy. The Law
of God has brought joy.
Think of the
dark corridors of our society, the sleazy sections of the cities with their sex
clubs and free life style. Think about the people who flaunt all codes of behavior.
Are any of them happy? Are prostitutes happy? Only in the movies. Are their
customers happy? No, they are depressed and depressing. Are those who party to
the extreme and wake up wondering who they are happy? Or do some of them
finally realize that their way of life destroys all meaning in life?
The law of the
Lord brings joy. On Tuesday we considered the grim anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
The advocates of abortion love to portray the Catholic Church as being
oppressive in its determination to protect life. To this I must tell you something that I am
certain you would agree with: I have met many people who, no matter what their
situations in life, have rejoiced in their unexpected babies. I have never met
anyone who could look back on an abortion with joy...
So often we
Catholics are portrayed as people struggling to live under oppressive laws. That’s
not true. People who chose the way of the Lord are happy. That way demands that
we take control of ourselves, and allow His Love to motivate our lives. The big
lie of our society is that happiness can be found outside of the Lord. We know
that what others pass off as happiness is merely a temporary band aid over a
broken life.
Happiness, comes
from God and leads us back to God. These reflections have led me, and perhaps
also you, to a deeper understanding of a passage in Psalm 19:
The law of the
LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of
the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of
the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment
of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the
LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances
of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be
desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and
drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them
is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward ■
[1] Yom Kippur
(Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר, IPA: [ˈjom kiˈpuʁ], or יום הכיפורים), also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of
the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and
repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour
period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in
synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as
the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im
("Days of Awe"). .
[2] Sunday 27th January, 2013, 3rd Sunday in
Ordinary Time. Readings: Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10. Your words, Lord, are spirit and life - Ps 18(19):8-10, 15. 1
Corinthians 12:12-30. Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 [Ss Timothy and Titus; St Angela
Merici].
[3] Ezra reads from
the Law of God. The occasion is some time after the Dedication of the rebuilt
Temple, after the exile. Let's just
place it about 510 BC.
Ilustration: G. Rouault, Augures
(1948), Aquatint, drypoint and etching (25 1/2 x 19 ¾), Collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art.
