The readings today lead me to think about our attitude toward laws and codes of behavior. But first, let me tell you about Br. Alpheus. When he entered the abbey, he was told that the monks were only allowed to say two words every five years. After five years in the monastery, the Abbot asked him what his two words were.
Br. Alpheus said, “Food Cold.” “OK,” the Abbot said, “You may not speak for five more years, then you will be allowed to say your next two words.” Five years later the Abbot asked him what his two words were. Br. Alpheus said, “Bed, hard.” “OK, Br. Alpheus,” the Abbot said, rather dismayed, “you may say your next two words five years from now.”
Five years later the Abbot called Br. Alpheus into his office and told him he could now say two words. Br. Alpheus replied, “I quit.” “Well, no wonder,” the Abbot said, “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here.”
In our first reading, we found that from daybreak to midday, the people listened attentively to Ezra as he read from the Torah, the book of the law of God, explaining it so that they could understand what was read. Aware that they had offended God by ignoring his law, the people wept. Because God is merciful, Ezra encouraged them instead to be joyful. That day they entered into a renewed covenant with God, determined to put the past behind them, and to be faithful to God’s will as presented in the books of the Law.
My gut feeling is that a fair number of us would not be so inclined to act or react in the same way as Ezra’s listeners did. Like Br. Alpheus, we grumble about God’s many laws as hindrances in our pursuit of happiness, instead of seeing them as God’s blueprints for achieving happiness. We too have every reason to be joyful for the God who made us is also the one who loves, forgives, and redeems us.
Today’s psalm reiterates the value of God’s law: “the law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye.”
In the Gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry in the synagogue in his hometown by proclaiming his mission statement. Opening the scroll from the prophet, Isaiah, he read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Do we see that as our mission?
These two readings, along with today’s psalm, affirm that we should see the Law of God as liberating us, rather than restricting us. However, that is not how every one views the Ten Commandments and the Church’s moral teachings. But if we really stop to think about it, we can see that the true joy and freedom we have result from adhering to the moral principles of our faith life.
Many people in our times seek freedom from codes of moral conduct. Yet how happy are they? A person cannot be happily married and at the same time be unfaithful. A person cannot grow in love and be basically selfish. If a lack of rules brought them happiness, than why would any of them turn to destructive addictions or commit suicide? If a code of morality is supposed to be somber and oppressive, why are some of the happiest people in the world those whose lives revolve around a strict following of the Lord?
Some of the happiest people I have ever met are monks. They have to get up in the middle of the night. They have set hours for work and prayer. Their diets are restricted. Some take vows of silence. Yet, they are happy. These are not people who do not know any better. Nor are they social misfits, who have no place in society. The monastery will only accept people who have been successful members of society. They are people whose lives point people to the true source of happiness. The Law of God has brought monks like Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating much joy, which they shared in their writings.
This past week we marked the grim anniversary of Roe vs. Wade with Marches for Life across the country. Advocates of abortion love to portray the Catholic Church as being oppressive in its determination to protect the unborn. How odd. I have met many couples who rejoiced to have a baby, but I have never met anyone who could look back on an abortion with joy.
We Catholics are often viewed as people struggling to live under oppressive laws. That’s neither God’s intent nor the intent of the Church. People who choose the way of the Lord see the wisdom behind God’s law. The big lie of our society is that happiness can be found aside from the Lord. The devil constantly tempts us into believing that fallacy. Those who listen attentively to God know that both true happiness and mercy come from God and lead us back to God.
How fitting that we heard Jesus “proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” When the Jubilee Year of Mercy began, Pope Francis said, “Mercy is the key word of the Gospel. We should not be afraid. We should allow ourselves to be embraced by the mercy of God, who waits for us and forgives everything.” May we all be merciful like the Father!