Maerten de Vos’ Moses Showing the Tablets of the Law to Israelites

People can look at religion and be unattractive to all its laws. They think these rules prevent them from being free and living life to the fullest. A careful reading of today’s passage would prove the contrary.

In the First Reading, Moses exhorts God’s chosen people to observe the Law carefully. They are not to add or subtract from what has been handed down to them. By doing so, they will be seen as a great nation, wise and intelligent, by many.

The Psalm and the Second Reading give the applications of following the Law. The psalmist proclaims that the observant disciple does not harm anyone or go against his neighbor. He lends his money to all in need and is never disturbed.
Paul echoes the psalmist by telling us that the Word is planted in us, not for our benefit, but that we might save others because we are faithful followers. To know a true religion is to see its followers care for the orphan and the widow.
Jesus tells the Pharisees that we must be sure the interior life is pure. If we do not guard our hearts, we welcome evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.

I think of these directives in comparison to a sport. In sports, you have rules that you have to follow to win. You follow the rules to be the best sports player in the game. By following the rules and winning, you rejoice in what it means to be a sportsman with your teammates.

The Jews had two important access points to God: the Temple and the Torah. While the Temple is not accessible to contemporary Jews, all Jews still have the Torah. The Torah was not a list of rules. The Jews saw this as God’s full disclosure of himself: this is who I am, this is who you are in relation to me, I am calling you as my own possession.

The people of God rejoiced because God was so close to them to give them the commandments. He wants them for his own and provides the program. They are his possession. They rejoiced because they knew who they belonged to him.

If we’re going to follow Christ, he gives us a covenant. He shares his life with us so we can entirely belong to him. He gives us the new and everlasting covenant to fight sin and do what is most important: care for the orphan, the widow, and the poor. If we follow Christ without addition or subtraction, we will do justice and walk in his holy presence.