Laws and Freedom

Human beings are created to be free, but they encounter laws as well.  It seems to be ever more difficult for modern persons to accept rules and regulations, which often are considered handicaps for their full ‘self-realization’.  Freedom is especially paramount in ‘land of the free and the home of the brave.’  St. Paul says that it was “for freedom that Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1).



Paul says also; “God sent his Son…to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption” (Galatians 4: 4-5).  Paul sees freedom not just as ‘free from’ but more as ‘free for’.  In other words, we are free to love God as His adopted children.



God gave Moses 10 laws.  Using those as a guide, the Talmud was written; the body of 613 Jewish civil and ceremonial laws and practices that were, in essence, like our country’s Constitution to the people of Israel in time of Jesus’ preaching.  Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but to reinterpret it and raise it to a different level (Matthew 5:17-37).  Jesus stresses that we should pay attention not just to what is actually done, but also to the inner motive, which is known only to ourselves and to God.



It is this inner motive that constitutes our aversion from or our conversion to God, and for which we will have to account.  In very strong and plain language, Jesus draws a black-versus-white picture that is crystal clear to “those who have ears”.  His reinterpretation of the 613 Talmudic laws—and even the 10 Commandments—reduces the law down to one basic law; we are to love God and to love one another as God loves us.  God claims our whole selves in the entirety of love.



This love of God and neighbor is the great law from which there is never an exception.  All other laws should be tested on this great law of love.  There can be bad laws, and we may be morally obligated to break them; think of conscientious objectors during war time.  We should respect other and always follow our own informed consciences. 



Laws tell us how reasonable people have applied the law of love to situations that may be very similar to ours.  Don’t discard such wisdom too easily.  Laws may be beacons in our often-confused human condition.  We should pray that the Holy Spirit may give us discernment in confused situations and help us write laws with loving intentions.



I think a perfect example of what I’m trying to say in this muddled reflection is one of the canons of the Catholic Church.  I would be willing to bet that over 90% of Catholics who attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days do so because it is considered a mortal sin not to.  I think that’s because they follow the ‘law’ out of fear of eternal damnation.  I used to think that way.  But what if we consider that God asks us to “Keep holy the Sabbath” so that we can have a deeper relationship with Him out of His love for us?  That changes the intent of the law from an ‘obligation’ to an ‘invitation’. 



The same ‘test’ can be applied to any one of the Ten Commandments.  They are all invitations to a closer, more loving relationship between God and us, and us and our neighbor.  The freedom we enjoy is the choice God gives us to either accept or refuse the invitation.  I pray that I always accept His invitation.