This is an important teaching. For in certain periods of Church history, Christians have struggled to understand the Old Testament, and what in it applies to Christians. The early church grappled with this. Peter and Paul grappled with this issue: did Christians have to observe the Jewish feasts, did they have to be circumcised, did they have to keep kosher law and the other laws about ritual purity?
In the year 140, there was a theologian named Marcion of Sinope, who went around Rome teaching that the entire Old Testament could be completely disregarded; that it was not inspired by the one true God, and has nothing to teach Christians. Marcion also claimed the letters of St. Paul were to be rejected, especially since they seem to contradict Marcion’s claims—that’s convenient—a tactic heretics have used for two thousand years—rejecting what contradicts their unsound teachings.
Rather, the Old Testament, and the law and the prophets, play a very important role in the life of the Church. We are not bound by certain ritual laws which have been fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, laws which were a foreshadowing of the salvation and sanctification Christ won for us. But the Old Testament does give expression to the moral law that God deigns for humanity. The Old Testament contains expression of that moral law which God has written onto the hearts of all people, of all places, and all times.
Again, while we are not bound by those ritual purification laws like, spending a fortnight outside of camp if we come in contact with shellfish, we are bound to observe the moral law. The words of Moss in our first reading apply to the obedience we owe to the moral law: “Hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live.”
Life in Christ in this life and the life to come requires obedience to God’s laws. We observe his statues, decrees, laws and commandments, that we may live.
We read this passage during Lent for a number of reasons. First, those to be baptized at Easter need to take care to hear and learn and seek to understand the statutes and decrees taught by the Church, so that they do not receive the grace of God in vain. Secondly, those who are already baptized, us, need to reflect on our own obedience to God’s laws, and repent if we have failed to keep them, and seek to amend our lives.
When we talk about doing penance during Lent through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, what are we doing penance for? We do penance for our own failures to observe God’s law, and we do penance for our neighbors, our enemies, those who have suppressed their consciences out of ignorance or hard-heartedness or addiction to the pleasures of the flesh.
“Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
May we be found to be the best of teachers of God’s law, by word and deed and good example for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That obedience to all the commands of Christ and the Church may mark the life of every Christian.
That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.
That this Lent we will be faithful to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord sanctifies us.
For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
For generous giving for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, victims of natural disaster, terrorism, war, and violence, the grieving and those most in need.
For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.
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