Meditations for Lent - #21
The recommended readings for this day of lent is Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Psalm 147:12-13,15-16 and Matthew 5:17-19. I. attempted to read over these passages carefully and with an open heart. Anyone who knows me know I am I not big on following rules just to follow rules. Even if someone suggest that it is God’s rule or law I am not likely to be impressed until and unless it makes sense in my head. True, if it does not make sense I will talk to others who may have more information or more insight than I have yet garnered. If it still does not make sense I may attempt to find out the etiology of the rule or law to ascertain how it came to be a rule or law. One could, for example, consider rules prohibiting masturbation or same sex behavior. There was a time, pre-microscopes, when it was believed that there was a shortage of sperm and many children and mothers died in childbirth. That was also a time when one might need a large family to gather or farm for food. One certainly did not want to waste the limited number of sperms which was thought to be available. Given those “facts/beliefs” one would outlaw masturbation and same sex behavior because it wasted seed. Eventually it was discovered that most men had a host of sperm, we were able to decrease the number of infant and maternal deaths and the need for physical labor decreased. There was no longer any basis for the rules prohibiting masturbation or same sex behavior. The problem is, of course, that once a rule becomes part of a religious tradition it becomes God’s rule or law. One cannot question the divine. Yet, in Matthew 22 Jesus has more to say about commandment or rules. When asked what is the greatest commandment he replies: “’ the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it,. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” For me this is one of the most important teachings of Jesus. No matter what I do I must ask myself the following questions:
My spiritual intention is never about obeying rules other than these two. Of course, if I judge a potential action by these two rules I am not going to harm others intentionally. I may take/borrow something to feed someone . I might take shelter in someone’s home to keep from freezing. I might risk arrest to protest mistreatment of others. I might attempt to hold an organization accountable. I might attempt to prevent some other harmful behavior even it that behavior is legal. I must, however, always ask:
In other words, how honest can I be with myself and with others about the purpose of my behavior. Jesus is alleged to have said I came to accomplish the purpose of the law of Moses and the prophets. Within the context of the time in which Moses and the prophets were living what was the purpose of the law? That is up to us to prayerfully discern with each other. Obviously it would be much easier to just have a long list of commands or rules, but that would not necessarily satisfy the conditions that Jesus teaches. Still, we are not called to do what his easiest but what satisfies the God of our understanding.
Written March 27, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
pickettjf@gmail.com
The recommended readings for this day of lent is Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Psalm 147:12-13,15-16 and Matthew 5:17-19. I. attempted to read over these passages carefully and with an open heart. Anyone who knows me know I am I not big on following rules just to follow rules. Even if someone suggest that it is God’s rule or law I am not likely to be impressed until and unless it makes sense in my head. True, if it does not make sense I will talk to others who may have more information or more insight than I have yet garnered. If it still does not make sense I may attempt to find out the etiology of the rule or law to ascertain how it came to be a rule or law. One could, for example, consider rules prohibiting masturbation or same sex behavior. There was a time, pre-microscopes, when it was believed that there was a shortage of sperm and many children and mothers died in childbirth. That was also a time when one might need a large family to gather or farm for food. One certainly did not want to waste the limited number of sperms which was thought to be available. Given those “facts/beliefs” one would outlaw masturbation and same sex behavior because it wasted seed. Eventually it was discovered that most men had a host of sperm, we were able to decrease the number of infant and maternal deaths and the need for physical labor decreased. There was no longer any basis for the rules prohibiting masturbation or same sex behavior. The problem is, of course, that once a rule becomes part of a religious tradition it becomes God’s rule or law. One cannot question the divine. Yet, in Matthew 22 Jesus has more to say about commandment or rules. When asked what is the greatest commandment he replies: “’ the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it,. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” For me this is one of the most important teachings of Jesus. No matter what I do I must ask myself the following questions:
- As far as I can determine, does this intended action upset, destroy or otherwise harm any other part of the whole – of the “I am” which is God.
- How does this intended action affect others? Is this intended action the way I want to be treated?
My spiritual intention is never about obeying rules other than these two. Of course, if I judge a potential action by these two rules I am not going to harm others intentionally. I may take/borrow something to feed someone . I might take shelter in someone’s home to keep from freezing. I might risk arrest to protest mistreatment of others. I might attempt to hold an organization accountable. I might attempt to prevent some other harmful behavior even it that behavior is legal. I must, however, always ask:
- Is my intent love?
- Is there another approach which could be just as effective?
- Is my secret motive to gain attention or notoriety?
- Am I feeling self-righteous?
- Am I attempting to break a rule just to prove I can?
In other words, how honest can I be with myself and with others about the purpose of my behavior. Jesus is alleged to have said I came to accomplish the purpose of the law of Moses and the prophets. Within the context of the time in which Moses and the prophets were living what was the purpose of the law? That is up to us to prayerfully discern with each other. Obviously it would be much easier to just have a long list of commands or rules, but that would not necessarily satisfy the conditions that Jesus teaches. Still, we are not called to do what his easiest but what satisfies the God of our understanding.
Written March 27, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
pickettjf@gmail.com
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