By Steve Hall
Humanity likes law and order. Civilizations thrive with law and order. The growing child does better in an atmosphere of law and order. So it should be no surprise that the Pharisees were attached to law and order. What is it about Law and Order that it should be held in such high regard?
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Galatians 5:1-6
Psalm 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48
Luke 11:37-41
Law and Order - A hallmark of Classical Rome
Law and Order - A popular television show.
Law and Order - The ever-recurring plan of the politician
Law and Order - A fundamental requirement in raising children.
Humanity likes law and order. Civilizations thrive with law and order. The growing child does better in an atmosphere of law and order. So it should be no surprise that the Pharisees were attached to law and order.
What is it about Law and Order that it should be held in such high regard?
Several points come into play when addressing that question. But the most obvious answer is that law and subsequent order create a life environment that both lets us know where we stand and what we can reasonably expect from others. The law says that we must stop at the stop sign, so we stop and expect other drivers to do the same. If an intersection has no stop signs, accidents may follow. If they do, those in charge will probably put up stop signs.
The same applies in other aspects of life. Take the area of social interaction. If we reach out to shake someone’s hand and are intentionally ignored, we consider it a breach of social etiquette (read ‘law’).
Order follows from the establishment and observance of law; and, on the whole, humanity prefers order over chaos. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding a group of ten year old boys find themselves stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash.
First, they seek to establish order. The idea of seeking order isn't far-fetched, even when we’re talking about children. Rather, it would seem that order is a characteristic of our humanity. Then, of course, there are consequences for behavior that is contrary to the established law. On the whole, the system works fairly well, and in fact, it holds a highly regarded place in the social order. So, what’s Paul’s problem?
“You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law.”
Paul addresses a common human problem, one stated in the gospel reading as well. Fortunately, the gospel gives us a bit more to work with.
“Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
With what the Scriptures have given us, we can discern differences worth discussing. We will focus on two. The first is our tendency to feel secure. We like to be confident that our judgment and corresponding behavior are correct according to the laws, norms, and customs that we know. For that simple reason, the powers that be give rewards and accolades.
But in the spiritual realm, such practices are irrelevant, even if they are customary. Consider just one example. The practice of tithing is clear; the amount is set at ten percent. The practice conforms to a mathematically rigid law. Alms-giving, on the other hand, is open-ended. It has no set amount prescribed, but is guided not by math, but by another's need.
Which of the two is easier to follow? If I tithe, I know exactly what I must do. If I give alms, where do I stop? As with so many aspects of life, we prefer the easier, simpler option. Then I have fulfilled my duty.
Moving into the spiritual life, however, adds another dimension, one that goes beyond duty. Fulfillment of the law is marvelous for creating order and even harmony. It does little to touch on the human spirit. It can, in fact, substitute rigid human justice for mercy, substitute consequences for compassion, and substitute order for love.
Applied to our tithing-almsgiving example, we find tithing conforms to our human system of justice, while almsgiving reaches toward mercy. We would find tithing avoids consequences, while almsgiving flows from perceiving another’s need. We would find tithing may be sufficient for order, while almsgiving realizes the teaching to love as I have loved you.
Choose!