20241012 THE PLACE OF THE LAW BEFORE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST
First reading |
Galatians 3:22-29 |
There are no more distinctions: all are one in Christ Jesus
Scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere. In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.
Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith. Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 104(105):2-7 |
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
O sing to the Lord, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Consider the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, the judgements he spoke.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God:
his judgements prevail in all the earth.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | Jn14:23 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him.
Alleluia!
Or: | Lk11:28 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Happy are those
who hear the word of God
and keep it.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 11:27-28 |
'Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!'
As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’
12 October 2024, Saturday, 27th Week in Ordinary Time
THE PLACE OF THE LAW BEFORE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [GALATIANS 3:22-29; LUKE 11:27-28]
What is the relationship between the law and faith? We know that St Paul’s emphasis in his preaching is that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. We cannot be saved by observance of the laws. This doctrine of justification by faith alone is the primary doctrinal thesis of his writing in his letter to the Romans. The letter to the Galatians is written to address the confusion among some Christians about the necessity of the law for salvation because some strict Jewish Christians unsettled the converts that they had to observe the Mosaic Law and be circumcised to be a member of the People of God.
This question is also pertinent for us as Catholics. We have always given the impression that salvation is through good works rather than faith in Christ. In fact, in our teaching and Catechism, we do not underscore the importance of faith in Christ as much as being obedient to the commandments as taught by the Church. Catholics tend to be meticulous and obsessed about their sins, number and nature, as required of them to confess during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Some are over scrupulous for fear of forgetting to mention a sin that they had committed. Others are afraid that if they do not do the necessary penance given by the confessor, they might have a longer stay in purgatory. So, their relationship with God is one of fear and punishment for their failings.
Very little is given to the importance of faith in Christ, a personal relationship with Him, commending ourselves to His mercy and love; and most of all, like the Protestants, believing that the blood of Christ has saved us from our sins. How many of us truly believe that salvation is through the grace of God and not by our efforts? How many of us would be confident enough to claim salvation through faith in Christ? Paul in his letter to the Romans stated in no uncertain terms that we “are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:24-26)
Hence, the question of the place of the Law is important if we were to appreciate the truth that we are justified by faith in Christ. St Paul asked rhetorically, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Rom 3:31) There seems to be a contradiction or opposition between the law and faith. For this reason, St Paul sought to explain to the Galatians that these two are not in opposition, but they work seamlessly to bring about our salvation in Christ. How does he explain the unity between the law and faith?
Firstly, he stated the plain truth that “scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere.” As he wrote in Romans, “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) So we are all under sin and judgment. This is because the law which serves as a guide and norm for us to recognize ourselves as sinners, also has a condemnatory function. St Paul asked, “What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead.” (Rom 7:7f) Hence, he told the Galatians, “Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith.”
So the Mosaic Law serves as a norm for us to judge ourselves. It helps us to distinguish what is right and what is wrong. But it also reveals our helplessness to obey the laws. We are weak, and we are unable to fulfil the laws perfectly. So we are all condemned by the law. I think the real danger for Catholics is that we can fulfil the laws perfectly and therefore demand salvation from God. Salvation is no more a gift from God but owed to us by our merits. Even St Paul made it clear when he wrote to the Corinthians, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.” (1 Cor 4:3-5) St John also wrote, “by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 Jn 3:19f) In other words, no one is perfect before God and so salvation is the free gift of God.
We should try to follow the law as an expression of our love for God, but we must never ever think that we are perfected by our own efforts. We will always fall short of perfection. At most, as St Paul wrote, “The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith.” Indeed, as he said, “Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed.” The law therefore has a temporary purpose, to help us walk the way of truth and love. But the law does not give us the capacity to observe the law. It only tells us where we have sinned. St Paul shared his own struggles in seeking perfection through the law when he wrote, “For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” (Rom 7:18-23)
So what will give us the capacity to fulfil the laws perfectly if not through faith in Christ? “In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.” The law reveals our hopelessness. Faith in Christ gives us the capacity to live the laws perfectly because we transcend the laws by living a life of love and charity. We go beyond obedience to the laws because we are motivated by love for Christ and His love, which is the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This is why in John’s gospel, Jesus told us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.” (Jn 14:15f; 23f)
Mary in the gospel today teaches us how to love God and how to carry out perfectly His commandments. The Lord praised His mother when “a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ Mary has a deep relationship with God. She has total faith in Him and so not only did she hear the Word of God, but she was obedient to it because of her love for the Lord. Indeed, by her example, she reveals to us our true status as sons and daughters of God, with a personal relationship with Him as St Paul told the Galatians, “Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.” Through faith in Christ, and a relationship of trust and love, we will all belong to Christ and put on His mind and heart. Truly, it is faith that justifies us and makes us holy and acceptable to God because of His mercy.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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