THE SUPREMACY OF DIVINE LAWS


 

Jesus condemns Pharisees and Scribes saying, “You abandon God’s commandment and hold on to human tradition” (Mk 7:8). The Ten Commandments are the basic laws given by God that every Jew was expected to follow. Jesus summarized these Ten Commandments into two; love God and love one’s neighbour. The Pharisees and Scribes are the guardians of discipline of Jewish religious life. They hold the seat of Moses to judge people according to the law. The traditions that emerged in the course of time are practical guidelines that help people to follow the law in particular situation. As only few people had the privilege and opportunity to education, these traditions facilitated poor people in keeping the laws. These traditions are good in itself and serves the need. These traditions get changed according to time, place and circumstances. Pharisees and Scribes are the authoritarian personals who form, change and oversee the observance of these traditions. As faithful leaders they come to Jesus and question about the activities of Jesus’s disciples. They complain that His disciples are not keeping the tradition (Mk 7:5). Their main intention is to tell Jesus that He is not following the traditions but due to fear of crowd they direct their complaint toward His disciples. This is their hypocrisy. If they are faithful leaders and know for sure that Jesus has overlooked some traditions, they should confront Him boldly and directly. Confronting the wicked and err person directly is the genuineness and the moral ascendency of any good leader. Taking another way in view of protecting one’s image and security is a hypocrisy, dishonesty, unfaithfulness and betrayal of one’s office.

The laws of Jewish nation are considered as marvellous in the sight of other nations. Because the laws of Jews are not the product of human wisdom but a gift of divine revelation. Even today no country or institution has better laws than Catholic Church. The laws of the Catholic Church are based on divine revelation, scripture and tradition. In the first reading God reminds Jews that by following His laws others nations will have high esteem on them (Deut 4:6). He instructs them not to add or remove anything from His laws (Deut 4:2). As Christians we are called to keep the laws of revelation at all times. The problem in today’s world is that we have projected the divine laws as contrast to human and nations’ constitutions. In view of national order and human dignity Christian precepts are abandoned. In reality Christian precepts are in no way against guarding human dignity and national order. It is a false propaganda that is being made. One of those is the legalization of Abortion. In the name of guarding the rights of women and national health such abomination acts are legislated. The worst part of this situation is that the majority of those countries that legalized abortion are Christian nations. To all Christians who change divine laws in favour of national harmony and health Jesus tells, “You abandon God’s commandment and hold on to human tradition”(Mk 7:8). These Christians are Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’s time, who acted hypocritically.    

The fulfilment of God’s commandment is not easy. It takes courage, risks and tasks. Jesus did not promise prosperity in the path toward heaven. He warned about cross that come on believer’s way in following Him. The lack of courage to take up the cross is the root cause to excuse oneself from following God’s law. The legislation of life threatening laws are revolt against to take up one’s cross. It is a systematic way of abandoning God’s law from humanity. They think that they are wise in carrying out this legislation, but it will back fire on them. In the second reading St. James invites us to live the Word that we hear (Jas 1:22). God’s Word is given to us in order to follow. Let us not be just hearers of the Word. Christianity is about living. Divine laws make human divine. The human laws are result of some experience and study. They certainly help humans to bring positive discipline in the society, but they are not perfect. Divine laws are legislated by our creator who knows us from before we are being formed in our mother’s womb. At times our actions are like hypocrite Pharisees, who focus on human traditions (human laws) and forget divine laws. The laws of Christianity are supreme to any other laws. The precept of Christianity are to be guarded at any cost. The martyrs in the church history are the inspiration for those who take shelter in the human laws. The martyrs held firm to divine laws. Every martyr was given a chance to save his or her life if they give up divine laws and accept human propositions. They chose divine law above human propositions. They chose divine life in eternity than death into hell. Earlier the upholders of divine laws were executed, today the upholders of divine laws are sued as criminals and naxals under national laws. It is a modern martyrdom. Today we need such martyrs who live the faith come what may. One of such martyr is Fr. Stan Swamy S.J. who died in prison under false accusation. His martyrdom was carried out systematically and lawfully. May his soul rest in peace and be inspiration to wavering Christians. Let us chose between life and death. Let us chose between heaven and hell. Let us chose between divine laws and human wisdom. May we chose life unto death to guard divine laws. May we uphold God’s commandment and abandon human tradition.    

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