A: 6th Sun of Ord Time (16 Feb 2020) – SPIRIT OF THE LAW (Mt 5:17–37)

Just this week, the recent post-synodal exhortation of Pope Francis in response to the missionary context of the Amazon region was circulated. Entitled “Querida Amazonia” (“beloved Amazon”), it delves into four main chapters, namely, “A Social Dream” (nos. 8–27) “A Cultural Dream” (nos. 28–40), “An Ecological Dream” (nos. 41–60), and “An Ecclesial Dream” (nos. 61–110). This document is actually a byproduct of the discussions in the special synod for the Amazon held in Rome last October 6–27, 2019.

One of the main concerns raised there is the pressing need for more clerical missionaries who can minister to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the indigenous communities in the Amazon region. With their geographical separation from mainstream urbanization, they were hardly administered with the sacraments and doctrinal formation. Thus, it was strongly proposed to consider ordaining to the priesthood married men, and even women, to address this inadequacy. Subsequently, there arose an intense pressure for the Pope to alter Church laws on Sacred Orders in response to this plea. However, he fails to deliver this awaited change, insisting instead on the greater participation of the lay and the generosity of more dioceses in sending their priests to rural missions.

From the perspective of those in the Amazon and in the peripheries of society, this passive approach toward change is a big disappointment. Yet, for those who safeguard the doctrines and laws of the Church, it may be the best decision at hand considering that any major structural change needs more study and consultation (maybe, there will be one in the future). At this point, it is not helpful to blame anybody for failing to act, nor to sour grape for not giving in to the valid clamor of the poor Amazonian communities. A positive approach to this unfavorable decision will be more helpful by confronting sincerely ourselves: “In what way can I contribute to the evangelization of those in the margins?” and “In what way can I proactively lead more souls toward salvation?” Even the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church puts in highest esteem the universal principle of the pastoral care of all above any form of human law, with its last canonical article as follows: “canonical equity is to be observed, and the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes” (Can. 1752). In short, the salvation of souls matters the most.

This is clearly the perspective of Jesus in our gospel today: to look beyond the law. Our gospel today begins with the same note, i.e., Jesus came to fulfill the laws (Mt 5:17). We do not know the immediate context of Jesus’ statement here; all we know is that he was in a mountain before a huge crowd (v. 1). But he may be anticipating his response to future negative reactions against his maverick deeds and teachings in his so-called controversies with three sectoral groups in Matthew 22, viz., the Herodians (vv. 15–22), the Sadducees (vv. 23–33), and Pharisees (vv. 34–46). We read there that they were successively throwing trick questions at him: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” (v. 17), “In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be?” (v. 28), and “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (v. 34). Jesus, instead of answering these questions point-blank to demonstrate his wisdom and authority over them, directed his interrogators to think beyond the box. He was inferring that they should not be so meticulous in observing the law to the point that the spirit of the law is undermined. For this reason, in the next chapter, he would lambast their myopic attitude with a litany of denunciations (cf. “Woe to you…” in Mt 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).

Appropriately, in our gospel today, Jesus anticipates his evaluation of their attitudes. Thus, he warns his audience against falling to the same way of thinking: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:17). In a nutshell, our challenge today is to widen our horizon and to learn to discern constantly the spirit of every law. It is a day-to-day challenge, but everybody needs to work hand-in-hand… all for the salvation of more souls.

- Rex Fortes, CM