Fundamentals of foundations

When I turn to the purpose of the Law, it would seem, in that regard, to be the same for both Jews and Christians. Consider: Jesus follows the Beatitudes with a few words on the Law, and he is quite explicit.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)

This teaching was necessarily the case, for the Ten, written on those tablets, were fundamental to beginning a relationship with God. The law was to lay a foundation for entering into that relationship. Foundations are fundamental; they are the last to go away.

Lorem Ipsum


http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020518.cfm
1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13
Mark 6:53-56


When I was a child it was fairly easy to determine what it meant to be a ‘good boy’: You followed the rules. Among the earliest of these rules were two which I found particularly distasteful to follow: “Don’t play with your food.” and “Don’t throw your food.” During my elementary and high school years, food fights weren’t really my thing, so the necessity of those rules didn’t become obvious until I was a parent and had to clean up messes. But those weren’t rules for a happy life; they were rules for happy parents.

An increase in years also meant an increase in the number of rules; and distinguishing ‘rules’ from ‘Rules’ sometimes became difficult. It was probably the same for most of us. Consider a few and the potential for confusion becomes evident. There were: “Don’t pick your nose.” “Wait your turn.” “Go to bed when you’re told.” “Treat others kindly.” “Don’t commit adultery.” (That last one I knew long before I knew what it meant.)

Making a transition from being a ‘good boy’ to being a ‘good man’ is a somewhat ambiguous endeavor. In the secular world, ‘good man’ is directly tied to the observance of social rules and participating in a positive way in the affairs of the community. Our current method for transmitting some aspect of that ‘good man’ requirement is the school program of community service.

On the religious plain, however, the transition itself is different, and not always easy to grasp. It is the transition from being a ‘good boy’ to being a ‘holy man.’ Let’s come back to that in a minute.

This morning’s Old Testament reading presents us with the details of an extraordinary event and celebration. The great temple of Solomon has just been completed. Elders of Israel, leaders of tribes, princes from ancestral houses and all the people of Israel gather for a single purpose: “to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant,” and to place it “in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple.”

In more prosaic terms we might observe that there was a huge, nationwide celebration on the occasion of placing a gold-plated, wooden chest in an ornate, recently completed temple. But it wasn’t the chest itself which was considered important; the exuberance of the celebrants was for two tablets of stone, kept in the chest, on which were recorded the law given by God to Moses for the benefit of the Israelite people. Their veneration and worship were for God, Himself. God and Law were inextricably intertwined.

Obedience to the Law given Moses was a critical element in the Jewish faith. It is also critical for the Christian, though I’m not sure our thoughts on the Ten our similar to those of the Israeli people in Solomon’s time — nor should they be. Exploring the possible differences and similarities is not something to be tackled at the moment. Suffice it to say that the law, given to them on stone tablets, was viewed as a tangible gift from heaven by those people who moved it from tent to temple in the day’s of Solomon. I doubt that it holds the same significance for us today. Nevertheless, it is difficult to imagine that the constraint of rules would be cause for celebration, except for the fact that those rules somehow put those people in touch with the divine.

When I turn to the purpose of the Law, it would seem, in that regard, to be the same for both Jews and Christians. Consider: Jesus follows the Beatitudes with a few words on the Law, and he is quite explicit.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)

This teaching was necessarily the case, for the Ten, written on those tablets, were fundamental to beginning a relationship with God. The law was to lay a foundation for entering into that relationship. Foundations are fundamental; they are the last to go away.

By name they are commandments, rules, laws, directives, and so forth. Both Moses and God refer to them as such. But consider the words God uses to speak of their significance:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice, and clinging to him; for that means life to you and length of days." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Choosing to follow the Commandments meant choosing to enter into a relationship with God. In that relationship was life. Their value in this regard can be better understood when we change our perspective. Simply ask a question with each commandment: “What kind of God would tell me that He is the only God and no other god’s shall be worshipped?” OR “What kind of God would tell me that it is wrong to bear false witness against a neighbor?” As we pose and answer these questions we find that we begin to better know who God is. This is fundamental, foundational to the relationship.

Earlier it was noted that the stone tablets, were viewed by the Jews as a tangible gift from heaven. We too have a tangible gift from heaven; and that gift is also intended to be seen as foundational, that’s why Paul refers to the gift as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20). That tangible gift is the Eucharist, the body and blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is difficult to imagine that such simple food would be cause for celebration, except for the fact that that consecrated bread and wine put us in touch with the divine. So we must also ask ourselves — and persistently ask ourselves the question: “What kind of God would direct us to feed on himself and become one with him?” It is in answering that question that we begin our transition from being the “good man” to being the “holy man.”

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