Daily Retreat 11/07/07
2007 Nov 7 Wed
Rom 13:8-10/ Ps 111(112):1b-2. 4-5. 9/ Lk 14:25-33
From today’s readings: “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.... Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.... Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ”
Love is the fulfillment of the law
The centrality of Christian love and charity is emphasized time and time again throughout the New Testament. Here, in the context of Paul’s letter to the Romans, a crucial point is stressed: love is the FULFILLMENT of the law – but note that Paul does not say love is a REPLACEMENT for the law. Why is this distinction so important? Because some people have actually abused and equivocated the very concept of love in moral reasoning by purporting that as long as “love” is the motivation, nothing else matters.
This aberrant and abhorrent argumentation is used in the defense of many evils such as euthanasia (“Out of love for grandfather, we’ll put an end to his suffering”), abortion (“Compassion for the distraught woman requires this option”), contraception (“Preoccupation about a possible pregnancy should not ever inhibit an enamored couple”) and other turpitudes. But, proponents of such depravity ignore Paul’s further insistence, “Love does no evil to the neighbor!”
So, “doing no evil” (viz., not committing adultery, or killing, or stealing, or coveting, etc.) is the essential prerequisite for fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself. Only then does love truly fulfill (rather than replace!) all other commandments.
Rom 13:8-10/ Ps 111(112):1b-2. 4-5. 9/ Lk 14:25-33
From today’s readings: “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.... Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.... Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ”
Love is the fulfillment of the law
The centrality of Christian love and charity is emphasized time and time again throughout the New Testament. Here, in the context of Paul’s letter to the Romans, a crucial point is stressed: love is the FULFILLMENT of the law – but note that Paul does not say love is a REPLACEMENT for the law. Why is this distinction so important? Because some people have actually abused and equivocated the very concept of love in moral reasoning by purporting that as long as “love” is the motivation, nothing else matters.
This aberrant and abhorrent argumentation is used in the defense of many evils such as euthanasia (“Out of love for grandfather, we’ll put an end to his suffering”), abortion (“Compassion for the distraught woman requires this option”), contraception (“Preoccupation about a possible pregnancy should not ever inhibit an enamored couple”) and other turpitudes. But, proponents of such depravity ignore Paul’s further insistence, “Love does no evil to the neighbor!”
So, “doing no evil” (viz., not committing adultery, or killing, or stealing, or coveting, etc.) is the essential prerequisite for fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself. Only then does love truly fulfill (rather than replace!) all other commandments.
posted by FrPitstick | 11/05/2007
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