Eternal Validity of God’s Law – Mar 06 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 06, 2024, on how the permanence of God's moral law amidst societal shifts, highlighting Jesus' role in fulfilling the law and the grace provided to live it out.

Father reminds us of the unchanging nature of God's moral law despite societal changes, referencing Jesus' words that not the smallest letter of the law will pass away until all is fulfilled (Matthew 5:18 - not one iota, not one dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?18). He explains that while ceremonial laws like sacrifices and circumcision foreshadowed Christ and have been fulfilled (Colossians 2:11-12 - In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/2?11-12), the moral law remains constant across time because it pertains to human nature and our calling. Christ, embodying the fullness of revelation, corrected the Pharisees and Sadducees' misunderstandings of the law, emphasizing its interior aspect—love as the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10 - Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/13?10), and providing grace for us to adhere to it. By living according to God's law, we showcase wisdom and intelligence, as Moses suggests (Deuteronomy 4:6 - Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/4?6), and fulfill Isaiah's prophecy of being a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6 - I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?6).

00:00 – Modern Challenges and Church Teachings
00:28 – The Unchanging Nature of God's Law
01:03 – The Evolution of Christian Rituals and Symbols
01:47 – The Moral Law: Timeless and Universal
02:51 – The Deepening of the Gospel Law
04:22 – The Impact of Modifying Divine Law
05:03 – Observing God's Law: Wisdom vs. Folly
06:08 – The Global Influence of Christian Teachings
07:44 – Christian Influence on Institutions and Societal Decay

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday 3rd Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030624.cfm
1st: deu 4:1, 5-9
Resp: psa 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Gsp: mat 5:17-19

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1754

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