Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 3rd Week of Lent - Wed
[Deut 4:1, 5-9 and Matt 5:17-19]Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children. [Deuteronomy] Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. [Matthew]
I belong to a family that has a lot of lawyers in it. My father was an attorney and judge. My sister married an attorney. My two younger brothers are attorneys. Each of my siblings have children who are lawyers. Last but not least, I am a lawyer (non-practicing). Needless to say, we all have heard our share of "lawyer jokes" and realize that the legal profession does not enjoy the highest esteem in the land. At best, on many occasions, we are regarded as a necessary evil! Even Jesus has some strong words for lawyers at times [Matthew 23]. Since many if not most of the legislatures in our land are full of lawyers, the cynical among us may see the whole legal structure as self-perpetuating - lawyers making laws that only lawyers can understand and enforce - thereby creating more work for more lawyers!
There ARE certain laws that we do enshrine as sacred in our secular culture. The Constitution of the United States of America is the most notable example! However, that very document creates institutions that pass, enforce and interpret the document! It seems that law simply cannot escape the human element! In the Gospel of Matthew, the sacredness of the Mosaic Law is evident in the teachings of Jesus which reflect the Jewish heritage of the covenant between God and the Chosen People. The anxiety of the Jews who accepted Jesus as messiah shows in their concern about their way of life because the Mosaic code was considered to be a revelation from God! Would that way be protected by their acceptance of Jesus? History tells us that eventually the traditions taught by Jesus would be accommodated to those who accepted him but who were not Jews. Yet, the Christian community still had the task of structuring and defining its beliefs in order to protect its identity. Laws, and other regulations (and lawyers) continue to be necessary!
My Dominican brother, Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, reminds us of two very important things about law. First, no set of laws can cover everything that humans can do! Second, the "new law of Christ" is nothing other than the Holy Spirit working in our hearts through faith in Christ. (ST I-II, Q. 106). Reading the former in the light of the latter can help us to avoid excessive legalism while protecting the values that are most important. Both lawyer and non-lawyer can benefit from that kind of reflection. AMEN