Wednesday of the Third Week
Today our reading from Deuteronomy portrays something of a “constitutional convention” for the ancient people of Israel. Moses lays out the basic statutes and decrees for the Covenant People’s soon to be new nation. He is speaking near the end of his life, just prior to the Israelites entry into the Promised Land after decades in the wilderness.
Recalling our national preamble, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union…do establish this Constitution”; Moses might have paraphrased his as “The Lord our God, in order to form You as my new nation, has instructed me to proclaim these statutes and decrees, these laws and commandments”. Contemporary legal scholars are quick to remind us that our national constitution, and many others, find their roots in the early codes of the Israeli, Greek, Persian, and Roman peoples. Much is written about the value and importance of the rule of law. The rule of law prescribes structure, process, order and consequences for individuals and societies at large. When it is weakened or ignored, we risk chaos, harm and injustice. The rule of law should be changed rarely and then with great caution, with much deliberation. Consistent with this, Moses admonished the Israelites “be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory…but teach them to your children and to your children’s children”. Loyalty and observance were expected—don’t stray from the body of laws as divinely laid out.
In our Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus is speaking to His contemporaries. He underscores and values the ancient laws of Israel. He articulates the splendid consequences of following them—and the dire results of not. He seems concerned that some are questioning His intent. Is He about abolishing the law that we have long held so dearly? He reassures them that until “all things have taken place” not the “smallest letter or part of a letter” will be changed. He thus focuses on the prophecy imbedded in the law and shifts their attention to the magnitude of their place and time with Him and to what He is truly about as their Lord and Messiah. That His destiny is to fulfil what the law had foretold.
Prayer
Loving Father, we are children of the children’s children. Help us to follow as we have been taught. Amen.
Church Hindes ’69, Member of the Worshipping Community
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19
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