Reflection - Inside Out

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022920.cfm
Isaiah 58:9B-14
Luke 5:27-32

What we commonly regard as The Law of the Old Testament goes back to the time of Moses. It includes not only the well-known Ten Commandments but social, cultural, and civil laws as well. While a few are prescriptive — such as “honor your father and your mother,” — most are proscriptive — they tell us what not to do — such as “you shall not kill.” By in large, they focus attention on individual behavior and the ability to manage that behavior. They direct us to regulate ourselves and our inclination to serve our desires, our cravings, our hungers. For centuries these Laws and subsequent Laws like them provided the material for composing our list of sins. If you remember the Baltimore Catechism, you might also remember that, in the Q&A section for each commandment, there was a specific question about what each was forbidden by each commandment. The subsequent list was a bit lengthy.

One problem with Laws such as these and the Catechism questions that grew out of them, is that they direct our attention entirely toward ourselves. Certainly not a useless practice, but, just as certainly, one that could easily lead to a narrow spiritual vision where the almighty I is the constant focus. Such was the case with the Pharisees at the time of Jesus. Jesus Himself would point to their problem: “They [the Pharisees] bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.” (Mt 23:4) They, themselves would give voice to it. We hear it in their challenges. ‘We fast. Why don’t your disciples fast.’ ‘We observe the purification rites. Why don’t you?’ ‘We avoid tax collectors and sinners. Why don’t you?’ We have our list of what to do and what not to do. Where is your list?

But notice what the Lord says at the time of Isaiah.

Remove oppression, false accusation and malicious speech from your midst.
Bestow your bread on the hungry.
Satisfy the afflicted.
Hold back your foot from following your own pursuits on my holy day.
Call the sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable.

The fulfillment of these directives can only be realized by looking beyond ourselves. You cannot see the oppressed, those burdened by malicious speech, those who are hungry or afflicted — you cannot see these with an inward gaze.

But then we are called to take one more step; and the ‘law’ is advanced even further: “Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Matthew 12:29-31)

Try doing that with a mirror as your image of reality.