Rules, Laws, Regulations – There is no shortage of them. The Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, has not only the 10 Commandments but, in the Rabbinic tradition, a total of 613 Commandments – ranging from criminal punishments to sacrificial regulations, family relations, rules of inheritance, rights of the foreigners, and even dietary rules – and that is only the first 5 books, let alone kings and prophets that were to come – not including any other laws and regulations that exist for the orderly operation of the temple and the nation.
Indeed, even in the New Testament, we do not escape rules and laws, for Christ affirmed the law – not removing an iota from it – and even added new things – for we have received the sacramental forms for the sacraments that we are bound too – and new structures of governance under Peter and the apostles – and there is the new commandment Christ gives - To love each other as Christ has loved us!
Rules and regulations continue today within the Church – With the Pope, the successor to Peter, and the bishops, successors to the Apostles – governing and guiding – including with rules and regulations – Liturgical rubrics, penitential practices, and all 1752 Canons of the Code of Canon Law. But what is their point?
It is easy to go about and see the rules as boxes to be checked – fulfilling the precepts of the Church – going to confession, fulfilling the Mass obligations, putting the offertory envelope in the basket, or, fairly common today, digitally by giving online - But those rules are not themselves the point – they point to something more substantial – for in the 1752 Canons in Canon Law – the very last canon – the last words of the law? - “The salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes.”
The rules and laws have a point. Laws, rules, and regulations are not just to be followed but to point to the good, what we ought to do. They guide, point, and lead us towards that end, ultimately to Christ and salvation! Some of the laws are natural, written in creation itself – others are divine laws that are infallible guides – the 10 commandments – others are human and can, in certain circumstances, be dispensed – In all of them, the goal is not just to merely check the boxes – but to do the good – to work towards Christ and Salvation – some we do by doing everything, As the Jesuit motto puts it, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam – For the greater glory of God! – we do not merely follow rules – but work for the greater glory of God.
It is here that we see the point Paul wishes to make to the Corinthians – While we need to follow the law – it is a guide to the good – but the question is, what is the good – Just because there is no law against something does not mean one should do it – and just because one is checking the boxes of the rules does not show one is doing as one ought - for “whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
This includes everything we do – from diligently working and fulfilling our obligations, but also in leisure and recreation – skiing down the mountain within God’s creation, hiking through the woods – or watching some unknown football game this weekend – The Martyrs could die for the glory of God – but St Charles Borromeo could play pool for the greater glory of God.
But just saying something is for the glory of God does not make it so – It is possible to ski for the glory of God – but it is not possible to skip Mass on Sunday to get an extra hour on the slopes for the glory of God – the rules are our guide, willfully breaking them is not for the glory of God – but there is more beyond. – and this not only includes what we do, but what we do not do – for there are things that are not evil and not in violation of any rule which we should not do – for it is not beneficial. Turning to the example of – he seeks to “Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God” – not because he is barred by law from acting – but because he is “not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved.” – the purpose of his action – not merely check a box, but something more.
Rules have a purpose, but they go beyond checking the boxes, something that is always good to remember as Lent comes close. For there are many rules for Lent – just see the list of guidelines in the bulletin, However, if one gets clever, it is incredible how one can work the rules to take all the penance out of them.
One must do penance throughout Lent- but Sunday and solemnities do not count, and that starts with evening prayer on Saturday – which can be prayed at noon – So there is no need to do any penance then - Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but you can still have one meal – and two other snacks … if they combine to be less than a full meal – but if it is equal to a full meal –that is a sin. – but you just need to make the full meal bigger, and you will be ok again – of course, a liquid does not break the fast – so have that martini- and as the olive is part of the martini- enjoy the olive – that does not break the fast. And abstinence on Fridays –but fry that fish with desserts – there is a one up in Springfield at St Mary’s if you are looking for fried fish. Also, the alligator is not really an animal of the land, so that is ok on Friday as it is really fish – and in Michigan, there is an indult, so it is ok to have a muskrat.
If we only check the boxes, the point is missed completely; Lent only seeking to meet the rules is missing something – Instead, let us follow that exhortation of St Paul, the motto of the Jesuits - working for the salvation of the souls, the supreme law of the Church – doing everything for the greater glory of God - For this is indeed how we follow that new commandment of Christ – love each other as Christ has loved us.