Beyond the Letter: Living the Spirit of God’s Law in Modern Times
By Abba Jimmy
Imagine a love so fierce and so profound that it would willingly embrace damnation if it meant salvation for others. This is not the storyline of a heroic epic or a romantic tragedy; this is the raw, unvarnished passion of the Apostle Paul for his people, an echo of Christ’s own heart for humanity. In Romans 9:1–5, we stand on sacred ground, witnessing a spiritual agony that challenges the very limits of our understanding of sacrifice and love.
Paul stands in the lineage of great intercessors like Moses, who dared to stand before God and offer himself for his people’s sin. This is a love that is not content with safe, comfortable platitudes but is driven by a relentless desire for others’ good, even at the greatest personal cost. As we study these texts, we see the depth of Paul’s anguish, not as a distant historical fact, but as a vivid call to each of us: What are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of others?
The Psalmist’s song in Psalm 147 elevates the story of Israel, God’s chosen, yet it is not an exclusive anthem but a prelude to a universal symphony of salvation. This particular love story between God and Israel holds within it the seeds of God’s expansive grace, reaching out to all nations with the promise of inclusion in this divine narrative.
And in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 14:1–6), we witness a profound act of liberation as Jesus heals on the Sabbath, not in defiance of the law but in fulfillment of its deepest purpose: love, mercy, and human flourishing. Here, the letter of the law is transcended by the spirit, calling us to live out a faith that is both grounded in tradition and alive with compassionate responsiveness to human need.
These passages invite us into a journey through the heart of God’s redemptive plan, a journey that compels us to ask how we, too, can embody this sacrificial love, this holy particularity that blossoms into universal invitation, and this merciful action that upholds the true intent of God’s commands. Join us as we explore the agony, the love, and the mercy that pulsate through these scriptures.
The Catholic response:
Universality of God’s Salvific Will and Compassion over Law: The tension between law and compassion can be found in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), where Jesus teaches that the fulfillment of the law is not found in strict observance but in the practice of mercy. In caring for the marginalized, like the immigrants and refugees of our times, we are called to remember the words of Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” These words invite a contemporary culture to balance the rule of law with the law of love, ensuring that our actions are a testament to the Gospel values.
Advocating for Policies of Dignity and Respect: In regard to the dignity of the individual and the sovereignty of nations, Romans 13:1–7 calls for respect for governing authorities, but this is not a blind allegiance. Acts 5:29 states, “We must obey God rather than men.” A deeper Catholic response, then, is to advocate for civil laws that align with the moral law of God — laws that are just, merciful, and promote the common good. This response is echoed in the encyclical “Pacem in Terris” by Pope John XXIII, which emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of individuals and the call for governments to protect these rights. Policies should reflect a balance between Matthew 22:21, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” and the inherent dignity of every person made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
Seeing Christ in Each Person and Acting with Mercy: In viewing others with compassion, we echo the vision of Paul who saw the image of God not only in his kin but in all. Galatians 3:28 proclaims, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This universal kinship compels us to prioritize mercy in our actions. The Catholic Church, through its social teaching, urges us to see the face of Christ in the poor and the stranger and to remember that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Applying the Readings to Our Treatment of Strangers: The application calls us to be like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), who welcomes back his child without precondition, reflecting the unconditional love of God. We are urged to extend this love to the “stranger” in our midst, just as the Israelites were reminded in Leviticus 19:34, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” This biblical foundation challenges us to a conversion of heart and action, to ensure that our treatment of immigrants and refugees reflects not only our human laws but the divine law of love.
A Catholic loving, clear, and solid response must also engage with the reality of a globalized world where migration is often a symptom of deeper issues like war, poverty, and injustice. In line with Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the principle of subsidiarity, efforts should be made not only to assist immigrants and refugees at the point of arrival but also to address the root causes that compel them to leave their homelands. This is an extension of the biblical call to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). It means promoting development and peace in those nations, as suggested by the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, to create conditions where migration is a choice rather than a necessity.
Therefore, while respecting the laws of nations, the Church’s response is to challenge them to rise to the higher laws of God’s kingdom, where love, justice, and peace are not just ideals but lived realities for all of God’s children.
