We are surrounded by laws and rules. On the one hand instinctively we don’t like them, on the other hand we cannot do without them. We know that without them our society simply cannot function and in that sense neither can we as individuals; laws and rules help us to regulate ourselves as well as society. Despite the pull of our free will and individuality (both of which are gifts from God), having a structure makes us feel safe. Framed well laws and rules give us the ability to be free.

Laws go back a long way. For the Jewish people the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament (a word meaning instruction, teaching or law), was put into written form around 450-350 years before the birth of Jesus before which it was passed on by word of mouth. In Jewish law there are 613 commandments. The Pharisees’ whole way of life was dedicated to keeping all of them.

This is something of the setting for Sunday’s Gospel. In the context of Sunday's gospel those listening to Jesus thinking “how does what He says fit in with the laws we know – the law of Moses; is Jesus putting all that in the bin?”. The answer is no he wasn’t and the doesn’t, but the people listening to Jesus did not realise that in himself, as God, Jesus fully embodies the law given by God to Moses, in his very being he is the law. He is the fulfilment of the law given to Moses centuries before.

So what is important to the law of Jesus in Sunday's Gospel? It's about relationships, how we see and treat each other. The love, regard, and respect we have for each other.

Jesus expands the commandment against killing. The act of murder begins in anger, hate, and a lack of regard for the other person. Not killing another person is not enough. Way before the point of violence is reached there is a need to resolve feelings and actions which damage the other person. How can you worship a loving God when you cannot bear those around you? The thing we need to kill in ourselves are the things, often little things, which harm others.

Perhaps the deepest form of relationship is that of marriage. At the dawn of time God bound himself to us in love. Marriage is special because the promises made by the couple mirrors that of God willingly binding himself to us unbreakably and forever. Married couple’s also share with God the ability to create new life in their children. It is not creation in its purest sense, where God creates something from nothing, but it is pro-creation. An amazing and beautiful thing we are reminded of every time we hold a baby or look into the eyes of a child. Marriage is more than a legal contract that can be torn up, it is a covenant, an agreement that brings about a relationship, something which adultery puts in the bin. We know this when we see in people around us just how damaging and devastating an extra marital affair is ultimately for everyone involved in it.

Related to both if these is simple honesty about our feelings and what we commit to others. If you say yes or no simply say it and mean it. We don’t need extravagant and wordy oaths. God knows what is in our hearts, God sees straight through us. God is almighty and all seeing

Today’s gospel fundamentally challenges us. It points us towards a law of love, faithfulness and honesty. How loving are we towards those around us? How often is there malice not love in our hearts? Do we keep the promises we have made, including those made before God and the church? Did we mean them in the first place? Do we always say what we mean and honour our commitments. Big challenges for poor sinners; sinners like me, sinners like you. With God's grace it is possible to live the way of love.

God bless and keep you all with the assurance of my daily prayers for your intentions.

Remember this coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. Details of Mass in the parish are in this week's bulletin.

Fr Chris