In this earthly life, everything is subject to time and passes away. All created things of the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdom, inevitably come to an end. However, when man – whose material dimension also passes, to later be restored – crosses the threshold of the end of time, he will not cease to exist; he will either live eternal bliss or eternal perdition. In the Gospel we see Jesus affirm that, to receive the reward of everlasting happiness, it is not enough to call him ‘Lord’; one must also do the will of the Father: ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven’ (Mt 7:21). And to do the will of God it is necessary to put Jesus’ perennial teachings into practice: ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’ (Mt 24:35). Now, every one of Jesus’ teachings is based on doing good, never evil; that is, in fulfillment of the commandments, as He himself replied to the rich young man: ‘If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments’ (Mt. 19:17).
Therefore, his teaching may be taken as a code of Christian ethics, founded on eternal morality. This morality is engraved in men’s hearts, as the Apostle said to the Romans: ‘They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts’ (Rom 2:15), and it may not change with time or with changing circumstances. Seeking adaptation is the exact hypocrisy Jesus recriminated in the Pharisees’ behavior: they did not fulfill the law of Moses, but rather adapted its letter to their own interests and situations, creating a false personal morality. Christ made it very clear that the law of God has not changed at all: ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill’ (Mt 5:17). Therefore, whoever does not fulfill the true law is the pharisee, not the one who fulfills it. This is Church teaching across centuries: whatever breaks the law of God is a sin, independent of the times! Consequently, human societies are just or unjust depending on the just or unjust conduct of their human members. We cannot speak of a ‘social injustice’ in disregard to personal sins, for the latter are a consequence of the former, and not a mere casuistry. Morality is permanent and there is no such thing as “situation ethics”, as we will examine in this study. Read more…
Your fantastic blog has produced another great piece. Loved you explanation of what pharisaism really is and that it lies in the negation of God’s laws and their substitution by human criteria. Simply superb.
“…..as the Apostle said to the Romans: ‘They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts’ (Rom 2:15)
If ONLY you would see the preceding verses your Holiness…..
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. [23] And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts, and of creeping things. [24] Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. [27] And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. [28] And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, [30] Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
http://www.drbo.org/chapter/52001.htm
Furthermore….. Christ criticised the Pharisees – TRUE, but don’t forget his advice to those of us who are eager to put His teachings into practice….
[1] Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, [2] Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. [3] ALL THINGS THEREFORE WHATSOEVER THEY SHALL SAY TO YOU, OBSERVE AND DO: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.
It is clearly that Our Lord requests that we follow the Pharisees advice on personal piety to the letter – but should not endanger our souls by following them into perdition when they offer works OUTSIDE the Law already laid down by God.
Reblogged this on bid 24 uur and commented:
In this earthly life, everything is subject to time and passes away. All created things of the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdom, inevitably come to an end. However, when man – whose material dimension also passes, to later be restored – crosses the threshold of the end of time, he will not cease to exist; he will either live eternal bliss or eternal perdition. In the Gospel we see Jesus affirm that, to receive the reward of everlasting happiness, it is not enough to call him ‘Lord’; one must also do the will of the Father: ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven’ (Mt 7:21). And to do the will of God it is necessary to put Jesus’ perennial teachings into practice: ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’ (Mt 24:35). Now, every one of Jesus’ teachings is based on doing good, never evil; that is, in fulfillment of the commandments, as He himself replied to the rich young man: ‘If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments’ (Mt. 19:17).