Por Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

For some, the 10 Commandments on tablets of stone were quite enough. They offered a burden too hard to follow, better to be forgotten. Yet, lest we forget, Moses added a greatly detailed version in Exodus. He did not think God’s directives were burdensome. Through the desert day and night, God had led Israel toward their haven by the cloud of His presence. Poised to enter the Promised Land, He also guided them toward Himself by the light of His revealed Law. Nations would admire their wisdom and acclaim, “Lo, a wise and understanding people, a great nation” (Dt 4:8). Thar was Moses.

For us Christians on ascent from earth to heaven, we too need to follow the directional signs toward everlasting life given us by God. The Commandments beckon us onward and upward. They are our stepping stones. And St. Paul adds that Christ our Savior, though seemingly weak on the Cross, is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” We understand that it is wise to place our suffering on the Cross together with Christ, a joint plea to the Father to grant us mercy and forgiveness. Some may think Jesus was foolish; some may think we, too, are foolish, but Paul has given us a memorable reply. “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 

For our salvation, we must choose the way of God. We can obey Him out of fear because we are awed by His might. But we are offered a better motive, that of love. Listen to the beloved Apostle John: “Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love drives out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love” (1Jn 4:18). Our relationship with God is built on love.

Love is not softness. Love for his Father and love for us drove Jesus to the Cross. Love drove the Virgin Mother to witness the pitiful death of her Son. Her love for us makes us confident that Mary does ‘pray for us sinners.’ Love for Jesus and Mary made the Apostle John stand by Mary at Calvary and offer her a loving arm and a home.

A mother sees her child in danger beside a busy road, snatches him up, and gives the child a loud swat on the backside–not punishment but love! A man called Jesus sees a herd of buyers and sellers desecrating the Temple, the dwelling place of God. He snatches some loose cords and drives them out, not so much with anger but out of love for his Father and respect for his holy dwelling. He gave those men a lesson never to forget.

In this is love: not as if we had loved God, but that He first loved us, and so He sent His Son as propitiation for our sins. (1 Jn 4:10)