Today’s readings focus on the laws of man that continue the seemingly eternal divide between the rich and the poor. The private property rights that we have today came about as the result of our territorial nature, and the “civilization” that was supposed to stop, or at lease minimize, the physical fighting between us.
Now there’s nothing wrong with trying to create civility among people through the rule of law. Today’s governments that try to do so are more likely to serve more of their individual people’s needs that those of old.
But, as Timothy points out, this “civilization” we have created has also caused people to “fall into temptation and [be] trapped by many senseless and harmful desired that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” For, as he says: “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”
Thus, the rule of law that is imposed by people on other people has its flaws, primarily because, as the saying goes: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
In our so-called “Capitalist” country, money has come to spell power, and Timothy’s observations are as true today as they were then.
So, what are we Christians who want to follow our faith to do when our government leaders’ actions are out of sync with our Christian beliefs? We are not above the law, but want to live our Christian values.
In a prior Reflection, I addressed Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where he concludes: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14.
In that chapter, Paul is telling us to avoid the yoke of slavery to our sins, and embrace the liberty by which Christ has made us free.
The slavery he’s talking about is both our self-indulgences, and our becoming slaves to one another and the Old Testament’s Mosaic law. The freedom is found in loving our neighbors, because those who act as if they truly love their neighbors, have kept the law fully.
As written by one commentator: The Mosaic Law given by God emphasized salvation by merit, but Jesus put the emphasis on salvation by the grace of God, through faith in him. It is in concern for the well-being of the other person that the law is obeyed.
I respectfully submit, that Paul’s concise statement of “the law” says it all.
If we try to do for our neighbors as we would do for ourselves, we’re headed in the right direction.
Paul also explained that “law was our custodian until Christ came, that we may be justifies by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:24-29.
And if we expect to be able to love all others as ourselves, we need to be able to put ourselves in their shoes, so we can know how they see and do things. If we are “all one in Christ Jesus,” how can we say that their way of thinking and doing things is inherently wrong?
A wise person once said that the thing that keeps people in everlasting ignorance is contempt prior to investigation.
In Paul’s time there were different peoples and countries, with different laws and customs. But he says that they were “all one in Jesus.”
Paul’s simple “law” is obviously an ideal, and like many ideals very difficult for a whole people or country to implement in practice. But if we individually try to “act as if” we love our neighbors as ourselves, we are likely to experience the freedom in Christ that Paul talks about. And seeing our example, others may follow us.
The current chaos has us all anxious and angry, but I’ll bet that a lot of those National Guard personnel in Los Angeles are struggling to do their jobs, and at least some are succeeding in carrying out their difficult tasks humanely.
We can support their doing so by finding ways that demonstrate our love for them, notwithstanding our disagreement with their leaders’ orders and actions.
I’m also here to suggest that in today’s terms, loving our neighbors as ourselves can end up being in our own, enlightened, self-interest.
For many years I worked for the State going to court to collect taxes. The taxpayers inevitably had a different point of view than the one presented by the State, and our legal system provides laws and procedures for resolving those differences, using what’s called an adversary system; or in other words, a controlled battle of words.
Following the examples of some others who had been in our office longer than I had, I was taught to act with civility and not take advantage, by making sure that my opponents had the same access to records and other data as I had. It often paid off, with them reciprocating in whatever ways they could. We could shake hands after the Court’s decision, even though we may have disagreed with it. Also, they were easier to work with on other cases.
Like I said, enlightened self-interest.
In groups I attend we emphasize that accepting a bad situation does not mean that we endorse it. We also talk about detachment with love, which in my experience can be painful at the moment, but ultimately frees me from lasting resentlments.
It has been said that here at St. Alban’s we are practicing a 21st Century version of First Century Christianity. We all try to “pitch in” to do what’s needed. That includes contributing both ourselves and our recourses. The outreach that supports is how we as a Church can love our neighbors as ourselves.