Reflection on Today's Readings, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, September 6th, 2020
Texts:Ez. 33:7-9; Ps. 95:1-2.6-9; Rom. 13: 8-10; Matt. 18:15-20
Today's readings brings to light why Paul often speaks ill of law. For him no human being can be upright by keeping the law (Gal. 215-16). The readings show that love is seeking the good of others. Love renders law useless; where there is love there is no need of law, for in love every law is fulfilled. Love fulfils the requirement of law.
Law is a testimony to the corruption of human nature. It is the loss of love that brings about law. Law is improvised as result of loss of love. Love generates inner disposition towards right living while law is an external force towards right living. Law does not create inner freedom but love does. Law, being from outside, it ends up making man a robot.
However, because man is self-determined, law often fails. Man breaks law because it is not in his nature to be robot. Paul expresses the inability of man to keep law thus: "We are well aware that the Law is spiritual: but I am a creature of flesh and blood sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand my own behaviour; I do not act as I mean to, but I do things that I hate. While I am acting as I do not want to, I still acknowledge the Law as good" (Rom. 7:14-16). Hence, Law is unable to free man from sins. Law ends up making things worse because the breaking of law itself is a sin. He says, "When law came on the scene, it was to multiply the offences" (Rom. 5:20). At another place, he says, "On the other hand, all those who depend on the works of the Law are under a curse since scripture says: Accursed be he who does not make what is written in the book of the Law effective, by putting it into practice" (Gal. 3:11).
However, Love fulfils the Law, not because it removes our imperfections, but in love we build one another. In love there is fraternal correction and we work to save one another from sin. Love comes with mercy and ability to forgive one another. In love, we may hurt one another, but there is no intention to do so.
Love makes the correction of one another a duty. God is love himself (1John 4:8). In the first reading, he says, "If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand". Love makes us our brother's keepers, for God says, "You, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel". The people of Israel were neighbours to Ezekiel and he was to watch over them. Just like Ezekiel, God has man each of us a watchman over his/her neighbours. We have the responsibility and the duty to save our neighbours. The gospel reading also affirms the same message. Being called to love we are to seek the salvation of one another. Love makes us to seek the salvation of another until it becomes glaring that the person is obstinate and has chosen to be lost.
Lord our God, implant in our hearts the love for you and for one another. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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