Romans 4:13, 16-18. Psalm 105:6-9, 42-43; Luke 12:8-12 It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham ... but through the righteousness that comes from faith. (Rom 4:13) The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say (Lk 12:12) Don’t you just love the look of a list with everything checked off? Writing down the tasks you have to do and crossing them off as each is completed - it gives you such a sense of accomplishment. That’s probably why we gravitate toward turning God’s law into a checklist. But do you really want to try to rely on a checked-off list to convince God to accept you? Let’s be clear. God didn’t intend his laws to be a checklist but a window into his own mind and heart so that we could see what love really looks like. At its core, the Law gives us examples of how we are called to love God and love each other. When God chose Abraham, there wasn’t any Law yet, but he considered Abraham righteous simply because he loved God, and he loved his neighbour. Abraham upheld the Law before there even was a Law! Now, let’s fast-forward to the New Testament. When asked by a scribe, Jesus affirmed that the essence of the Law is loving God with your whole heart, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbour as yourself (Mt 22:36-40). So when you see someone avoiding false idols, keeping the Sabbath holy, or reverencing God’s name, you say to yourself, “That person really loves God and puts him first.” And when you see someone respecting others, upholding their dignity, and being generous, you say, “That person really loves his neighbour.” More than checking off a to-do list, this person is reflecting the character of God’s love written on his or her heart. Most people only look at other people’s choices and actions. But if we’re living the law of love, there is a good chance that we will end up reflecting the beauty of that law. That’s because love is contagious. That’s because Jesus is contagious! As the old song goes, they will know we are Christians by our love - not because of our conformity to certain laws or because of our well-worn checklists! Now, the Gospel calls our attention to sin - those actions or inactions of ours that go contrary to the way God intends for us to relate with him and our neighbours. What is the unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us to avoid? Jesus knows that his disciples will be tested and he assures them that the Holy Spirit will give them what they need in their time of adversity. He warns them, however, that its possible to reject the grace of God and to fall into apostasy (giving up the faith) out of cowardice or disbelief. The scriptural expression to deny someone means to disown them. Jesus also speaks against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. What is blasphemy and why is it reprehensible? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. Its contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God. A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance is impossible. If someone repeatedly closes his heart to God and shuts his ears to his voice, he comes to a point where he can no longer recognize God even when God makes himself known. Such a person ends up perceiving evil as good and good as evil (Is 5:20). To fear such a sin, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for Gods grace and mercy. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but we can reject his mercy by refusing to ask Gods pardon for our wrongdoing and by refusing to accept the help he gives us to turn away from sin and from whatever would keep us from doing his will for our lives. God gives grace and help to all who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from our own sinful pride and the loss of hope in God. What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God? John the Evangelist tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). The death of Jesus on the cross won for us our salvation and adoption as the children of God. The love and mercy of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit are freely given to those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Is your hope securely placed in Christ and his victory on the cross? “Jesus, I put aside my checklist. Enkindle your love in my heart so that the choices I make demonstrate your love and life to everyone who sees me. Lord, you are my hope and salvation. May I trust you at all times and rely on your grace in times of testing and temptation. Let the fire of your Holy Spirit burn in my heart and fill me with a consuming love for you.” Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 08:25:30 +0000
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