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REFLECTION

The living law is the theme for ourtttft reflection. Law is the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members. A careful observation of the Torah, the Torah constitutes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (also called the Pentateubju dch, ‘five books’ in Greek), traditionally thought to have been composed by Moses. The Torah embodied the written law which was to be obeyed by the Israelites. The Torah or law fundamentally establishes the relationship that ought to exist between a person and God and a person and his neighbour. The law establishes and develops a right relationship between humanity and the divine and among humanity. Many in Jesus’ time had thought that Jesus’ teaching and interpretation of the law were revolutionary and therefore He sought to abolish the law but Jesus explained that “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any ,5r6 disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18). In other words, in fulfilling the written law, Jesus becomes the Living Law that directly impacts the lives of His followers.

Dear friend, Jesus is the Living Law that guides and shapes our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. One cannot understand the written law unless He welcomes Jesus into his or her heart and follow His perfect examples. For example, it is written in the Torah or the Law, “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18), Jesus fulfilled the written law by loving us unconditionally thereby becoming the Living Law who taught us that “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). Beloved in the Lord, one cannot disobey God if he or she has a relationship with Jesus Christ and follow His perfect examples in everything. Jesus the Living Law is the fulfilment of the written law. Jesus gave life to the written law by becoming the spirit and fulfilment of the existing or written law. “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:23-27)

It is important to understand that our righteousness is not complete unless we have followed Jesus’ examples, and obeyed His teachings as the Living law. When achieving the perfect image of Christ then we shall surpass the righteousness exhibited by the Pharisees. It is, for this reason, Jesus said that “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees and the teachers based their righteousness on the strict obedience to the written law but Jesus is admonishing us to follow Him, the Living Law in living a righteous life which is pleasing and acceptable to God. In other words, the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers was superficial but if one seeks to live a truly righteous life worth the Kingdom of God then He or she must follow Jesus who is the fulfilment of the law and the Living Law. May we live our lives according to the perfect examples of Jesus our Living law.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit strengthen us to be guided by the Living Law who is Jesus our Lord so that our righteousness will be counted as worthy and deserving of the Kingdom of God.