Daily Reflections

September 5, 2011
Live To Love

The Lord Jesus cured a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath. According to Jewish Laws, it is forbidden. But He did it not before He gave His teaching: “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Jesus was a pious Jew. His parents reared Him as one. He knew the Sabbath Law. But He was also God’s Son. He knew the spirit of those laws. He knew the purpose and importance of the Sabbath Law and all Jewish Laws. He took advantage of this situation to show them the real intent of the Law which is to be a good child of God and to merit salvation.
As a priest, I usually follow a schedule so that I could effectively attend to the needs of my parishioners and to give myself time to prepare well in disposing those commitments.
Once, I had a Mass at 6:00 p.m. in our parish. Half an hour before the time, I was already preparing myself. But just minutes before the Mass, my secretary called to say that a woman was in the office asking for a priest to give the Sacrament of Anointing to her dying mother. Immediately I told her I would go. I instructed my secretary to inform the people at Mass to wait because I would be attending to a dying person. I was hoping that they’d understand. But even if they did not, going to the dying person was the right decision. Although I was committed to the Mass, the soul of a sick person took priority.
After the visit, I rushed back to the parish to preside at Mass. I was told that some left but many stayed and even prayed for the sick person. I was sad for those who left (unless they had important schedules too!) but I was happy for those who stayed and even prayed for the sick I visited.
We always hear some lawyers and even non-lawyers cry out the Latin dictum, “Dura lex sed lex!” which means, “The law may be harsh but that is the law!” For Jesus, the law is the servant and men are its master. Of course, the ultimate Master is God for He created everything. But according to God’s purpose, the law must serve man. Man should not be enslaved by the law. Fr. Benny Tuazon

Reflection Question:
Have I tried to look into the spirit of the laws that I usually face in my daily life?

God, our Master Ruler, help me to adhere more to the spirit of Your laws and apply the same to my neighbor.

St. Joseph Canh, pray for us.