MK 2:23-28
SAM 8:00AM
SAM = St Augustine Monastery, Nova Scotia, Canada
WHEN THE DISCIPLES ate the Grain...they pulled on the Sabbath...they were breaking
the Law...so said the Pharisees. Our Lord points to David...& how he & his men ate the
Holy Bread....which was intended ONLY for the Priests. Our Lord reminds them...
...”the Sabbath was made for Man....and not man for the Sabbath.” Christ warns
them....NOT to be too Legalistic.
LET’S TAKE OUR LORD’S WORDS...& apply them to our present age. There are many today who knowingly break the Law. They say their FREEDOM is RESTRICTED by: Civil Law, by Church Law...even by Divine Law. The whole purpose of this message today is to completely refute such claims!
GOD DOES NOT ENSLAVE OR RESTRICT us...by His Commandments..or LAWS: FIRST: It is precisely because of His Great Love for all mankind...that God has given us His ...Commandments...or LAWS...NOT for our Restriction...but for our PROTECTION.....for our Spiritual & Social Good. We can even say for our PERFECTION...both Spiritual & Material. God’s Law & Church Law...promote our FREEDOM. It does not restrict it. This means....FREEDOM from Sin.
St. THOMAS AQUINAS defined LAW as an...”Ordinance of Right Reason promulgated...by the Head of the Community....in order to promote the Common Good.” SO a GOOD LAW is enacted on behalf of the Majority....or the Common Good.
SO, a Law.....in order to be a Good Law,..as opposed to a Bad Law.....must be Truthful.....& promote ONLY that which is GOOD...NOT EVIL or SINFUL. SIN & ERROR are two forces that can separate the Human Soul from God.
WHY? Because SIN & EVIL have no part with Christ....they cannot remain in the Presence of the Lord...the All Holy One....the Incarnate Son of God. Our Lord said. JO :6-7 “I am the Way, the Truth & the Life”....”No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Christ is the WAY to Heaven, Truth for our Minds...& the Life of Grace for all Souls.
AS A RESULT we should RUN TO.....God, Church, Mass, Prayer & Sacraments...& NOT as some are doing today...RUNNING AWAY from God & Church. JO 2:24 “He, Christ knows the hearts of all men”... “He tries our Hearts. ACTS 1:24 “Jesus knows our thoughts.” He knows our Limitations....&....our Failings....&....our Capabilities.
GOD HAS GIVEN us His Commandments....&....through His Prophets & Apostles has instructed all Mankind to LISTEN & OBEY!
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE CHURCH LAW...&..CIVIL LAW...ALL OF WHICH ARE FOR THE
BENEFIT & THE GOOD OF ALL MANKIND.
SO....LAW IS SOMETHING GOOD!