By Amalraj A csc –
Readings: I Kgs 18: 20-39; Mt 5: 17-19
When the game of chess began in India before the sixth century AD, it must not have had as many rules as it has now. Probably in course of time, the rules were updated by the countries in which it was played. As a result of all those updates, we have a lot of rules to be kept in mind while playing. As long as it is played the rules will continue to be updated.
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives importance to the spirit of the law than the law itself. Jesus even encourages to break the law when needed, like helping someone who is in need on the day of Sabbath. The spirit of the law is to make everyone more human but it is always misunderstood by the Pharisees and scribes who give importance to laws and rules alone. For Jesus one who understands and obeys the spirit of the law and teaches others is great in the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore all are expected to live a righteous life in the sight of Jesus than in the sight of the law.
As of now a lot of rules are imposed on the people by our government. The simple challenges that ordinary people face every day are the rules to be followed on the road. In course of time, the spirit of these rules is forgotten. Those who bribe the police and the officials are good citizens but the poor people who cannot bribe them are criminals in the sight of the law.
Maybe we all might have been like the Pharisees giving importance to the rules and letting the people suffer. It is an invitation from Jesus to understand the spirit of all the rules and live accordingly and to teach the same to the people.