Every game has its own set of rules.<\/p>\n
Board games have rules, though they are usually only consulted when someone is trying to cheat.\u00a0 Card games have rules.\u00a0 Every sport has rules.\u00a0 Without them, there would be total chaos.<\/p>\n
Imagine we are on a field, ready to play soccer.\u00a0 We hear the whistle, and I run toward the ball as fast as possible, I pick it up with my hands, hold on to it tightly, and I run all the way to the end zone and proclaim I scored a touchdown.\u00a0 You would say to me, \u201chey Father, you can\u2019t do that.\u201d\u00a0 And I would respond, \u201cYou can\u2019t tell me how to play soccer, I refuse to be restricted by your rules and regulations.\u00a0 I do whatever I want.\u00a0 I choose to play soccer this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The modern world invites us to rebel against any rules, regulations, or commandments.\u00a0 We are told to express our individuality and to do as we wish.\u00a0 My truth is mine, and yours is yours.\u00a0 You do you, and I do me.<\/p>\n
Yet, going back to sports, rules and regulations allow us to enjoy whatever sport we choose play.\u00a0 The rules don\u2019t restrict us or take anything away from us or the game.\u00a0 Rather, they help us have fun!<\/p>\n
Psalm 119 is baffling to the modern mind, yet here it is:<\/p>\n
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!<\/strong> In the Gospel passage, we experience Jesus as a lawgiver.\u00a0 In the Old Testament, God gave the law to Israel through Moses; in the New Testament, it is Jesus who gives a new law that goes further in love than the old law.\u00a0 Don\u2019t just refrain from killing, don\u2019t even get angry at your brother!\u00a0 Don\u2019t just be faithful to your spouse, do not even look at another with lust!\u00a0 Don\u2019t just avoid lies, don\u2019t swear and don\u2019t deceive!<\/p>\n The commandments given by God keep us on track \u2013 I remember my religion teacher in high school drawing a picture on the board.\u00a0 On one end of the board was a castle symbolizing heaven.\u00a0 On the other end, were we, the students.\u00a0 There was a yellow brick road connecting us to the castle, but there was another path that got off the yellow brick road into a dark forest, on and off.\u00a0 He said, \u201cGod gives us everything we need to stay on the yellow brick road, free from dangers and detours.\u00a0 It\u2019s your choice to remain on the yellow brick road or to take dangerous detours.\u201d<\/p>\n God gives us His law and His commandments not to restrict us or to take away out liberty, but rather, He does so to help us live our lives to the fullest.\u00a0 Though sin promises freedom from any constraints: I can do whatever I want!\u00a0 Sin actually chains us down.\u00a0 True freedom is found in God.\u00a0 In choosing what is good and right.<\/p>\n In following God\u2019s commandments, we do have to consider two things: the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.\u00a0 The letter of the law means doing exactly as instructed: \u201ctreat your neighbor as you\u2019d like to be treated.\u201d\u00a0 The spirit of the law means that the heart is attuned to the reason for the commandment, \u201cI help this elderly lady cross the street because I recognize her need and respond \u2013 not because I want to impress the young lady I\u2019m dating.\u201d<\/p>\n It is possible to follow the letter of the law without internalizing the purpose.\u00a0 Another example:\u00a0 One may refrain from eating meat every Friday of Lent as the law says, without ever grasping the reason why.\u00a0 It remains a rule to follow and never becomes a matter of the heart.\u00a0 The reason we give up meat is to unite ourselves to the sacrifice of Christ by offering a small sacrifice ourselves, giving up meat.\u00a0 Realizing this takes a commandment into the heart.\u00a0 It\u2019s not just \u201csomething we do,\u201d but something that unites the heart to Christ.\u00a0 Some people remain technical and legal: they don\u2019t eat meat on Friday but then feast on lobster or pig out at the parish fish fry.\u00a0 It\u2019s not just about following the law, it\u2019s about keeping it in our hearts.<\/p>\n We can confidently proclaim that we are blessed by following the Lord\u2019s commandments \u2013 and not restricted. \u00a0We pray that we will be able to follow the path God has set forth for us, and to do so confidently that His way leads to fulfillment and joy in this life and in the next.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every game has its own set of rules. Board games have rules, though they are usually only consulted when someone is trying to cheat.\u00a0 Card games have rules.\u00a0 Every sport has rules.\u00a0 Without them, there would be total chaos. Imagine we are on a field, ready to play soccer.\u00a0 We hear the whistle, and I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":3116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[30,2115,320,2118,1014],"class_list":["post-6981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homily","tag-catholic","tag-commandments","tag-homily","tag-liberty","tag-reflection"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nYou have commanded that your precepts
\nbe diligently kept.
\nOh, that I might be firm in the ways
\nof keeping your statutes!
\nBe good to your servant, that I may live
\nand keep your words.
\nOpen my eyes, that I may consider
\nthe wonders of your law.
\nInstruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
\nthat I may exactly observe them.
\nGive me discernment, that I may observe your law
\nand keep it with all my heart.<\/p>\n