Life or Law

“The Sabbath is made for man, not man for Sabbath” Mk 2.28

 

Rules are meant to serve not to enslave. Norms are meant to guide and not to curb. Discipline is for freedom and not to restrict.

One cannot break the Commandments. One can only break oneself against the Commandments. Rules, norms, commandments are important but they are not primary.  Rules are at the service of  freedom, growth and life. Every commandment is meant to promote life. By breaking a commandment it is not the rules we break, but part of ourselves we destroy.  

“Is it right to do good… or to save life?” Jesus asked the Pharisees.  Answer is obvious but not to the venerators of law. For Jesus man is more important than Sabbath. Life is more important than law. He goes to any length, to enhance, to promote life even on a Sabbath.  He defends his disciples against unjust accusations when they plucked grains or corn to eat. Giving sight to a man born blind  is more important to Jesus than keeping law of Sabbath. Saving life is more important than keeping laws. Those who are over zealous for the law often argue, accuse, condemn and do not hesitate even to use violence. In defense of the law they violate the most important law of love.

“Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath” He is the fulfillment of all laws. All commandments are meant  to lead us to him. St Augustine would say, “Love and do what you will”. Love God, love neighbor love yourself and you don’t have to keep any more laws.

Once a young man was going around in the market place swinging a stick this way and that. Someone told him to be careful. “I am free” the young man said. “ Oh yes you are free, but your freedom stops at the tip of my nose” the man warned  him. We are free, so are others free. In the street if there were no rules and no traffic lights there would be chaos, stand still. Discipline, rules, traffic lights make us free to move, to grow, to reach our destination. 

Life is primary not law, life in all its forms, wherever it is found. Man is primary not Sabbath.

-        Fr T.V. George sdb