CHOOSING THE BETTER WAY

Good Sunday morning to you 😉 How was your week?  Did you manage to add flavour & joy to some people’s lives in the week by your kindness, humour, love & care, a-la ‘salt of the earth’? Did you also let the light of Christ in you shine out in the face of conflict, doubt, uncertainty & sadness? 

Today, we continue reading the Gospel Account of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5 to 7), with the theme today focussing on the Law of Christ.  So, let’s unpack the readings & find some practical applications to life.

If we’re being honest, most of us appreciate rules. Like typical Singaporeans, we might complain about them, but rules provide us with a comfortable fence. So long as I don’t cross that line, I’m a “good person,” right? I haven’t killed anyone today, I haven’t robbed a bank & I haven’t brought durians onto the MRT.  By the letter of the law, I’m a Champion! 

But in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 5:17-37), Jesus takes that fence from mere Observance of the Law and moves it right into the centre of Our Hearts & Attitudes. Jesus isn't interested in a checklist of "don'ts” & thou shalt nots”.  He’s interested in the "why" behind the "what." He’s calling us to move from the Letter of the Law to the Spirit of the Law.

Not Abolishing, but Fulfilling

Jesus starts by saying he hasn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it. This isn't just religious jargon. In the ancient world, "fulfilling" a contract meant bringing it to its intended completion. Jesus is saying, "The Ten Commandments were the kindergarten version; I’m here to show you what the PhD in Love looks like."

He uses a series of "You have heard it said... but I say to you" statements. He takes the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" and ups the ante. It’s not enough to keep your hands off someone’s throat; you’ve got to keep the anger out of your heart. He takes "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and reminds us that the betrayal starts in the imagination long before it reaches the bedroom.

The Spirit Vs. The Letter

The Letter of the Law is about boundaries. It’s the bare minimum required to keep society from collapsing into total anarchy & chaos. It’s the "I'm just doing my job" mentality.

The Spirit of the Law, however, is about the intention of the Lawgiver—which is God, and God is Love. The Law says "Don't steal." The Spirit says "Be generous." The Law says "Don't lie." The Spirit says "Live in the truth, even when it costs you."

When I think of the above, I’m reminded of the Management / Psychology Two-Factor Theory of Motivation-Hygiene popularized by Frederick Herzberg.  In summary, this theory says that hygiene factors (like salary & working conditions) must be present in a job to prevent dissatisfaction; but what motivates & spurs performance are the Motivators like recognition & achievement.  

So it is in our “job” of Life.  When we live only by the Letter & are driven only by Hygiene factors, we become legalistic, judgmental, & operate on a ‘Lowest Common Denominator’ basis. We start looking for loopholes & do the minimum to avoid ‘punishment’.  We ask, "How far can I go before it’s officially a sin?" But when we live by the Spirit & operate on the Motivator factors, we ask, "How can I truly honour God who made me?” & “How much more can I love?"

The Wisdom of the Heart

Sirach tells us in the 1st Reading that "before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him." This is the core of our dignity as children of God: Choice. God doesn't want robots who follow programming. He wants sons and daughters that He has endowed with His Spirit to choose the Good because they recognize its beauty. As the Lord declares through the Prophet Ezekiel, “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put my spirit within you and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” (cf Ezekiel 36:26-27). 

So, following the Spirit of the Law requires a certain kind of "hidden wisdom," as St. Paul mentions in the 2nd Reading. It’s a wisdom that the world often thinks is foolish because it prioritizes reconciliation over being "right" and integrity over convenience.

Practical Application: Living the Spirit

So, how do we stop being "rule-followers" and start being "Spirit-led"? Here are three ways to bring this home:

1. Audit Your Anger Jesus is very specific: if you are at the altar and remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift and go be reconciled.

• The Practical Bit: Don't let "well, I'm not the one who started it" be your excuse. The Spirit of the Law doesn't care who started it; it cares about who is going to end it. This week, make the first move toward someone you’ve been "cold-shouldering."

2. Watch the "Micro-Cheats" We might not be committing theft or scamming innocent people, but what about the "small" dishonesties? Embellishing stories to make ourselves look better, "borrowing" office supplies, or gossiping under the guise of "sharing a prayer concern"?

·        The Practical Bit: Practice radical honesty. Let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No." If you find yourself needing to swear an oath or over-explain to be believed, ask yourself why your simple word isn't enough.

3. The "Plus One" Rule The Law tells us what we must do. The Spirit invites us to the "plus one"

·        The Practical Bit: In your interactions this week, do what is required, then add one act of grace. If you’re paid to work eight hours, work them well, and then spend five minutes mentoring a junior colleague. If you’re asked to do a chore, do it without the sigh or the ‘rolling the eyes’ move (I’m a master at this!). That "plus one" is where the Spirit lives.

Living by the Spirit of the Law is admittedly much harder than just following the rules. It requires constant self-reflection and a reliance on grace. As St. Therese of Lisieux said: “Tout Est Grace” – “Everything is Grace!”  But it’s precisely because of grace that we can experience freedom.  When we stop trying to cheat, manipulate & "game the system" of morality and start trying to mirror the heart of God, our lives lose their heaviness. We will then realize that the Law isn't a cage; it’s a map leading us to the only place worth going: a life of authentic, sacrificial love, following the footsteps of our Lord & Master Jesus Christ. 

Article by Damian Boon. HFC Blog Team Lead