11 June 2014 - same new song and dance

11 June 2014 - same new song and dance

Jesus delivers his sermon on the mount with the following proviso:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

That he needs to say this is unsurprising in context.  He just taught on the beatitudes which are so radically new as we saw two days ago.  And just after this he begins the teaching about the things about which "You have heard that it was said" but about which Jesus tells us, "I say to you".  Jesus is delivering this teaching from a mountain.  He is a law giver like Moses.  And it is so radical and new.  Even so, he wants us to understand that he isn't coming to replace Moses.  He stands in continuity with all that God has done in the history of Israel.  Yet it is not mere continuity.  He brings it to completion, to fulfillment.
So while the teaching of Jesus does contain novelty it does not excuse us from all that has gone before, save for ceremonial rules which no longer apply to us.  And now that we have received the teaching of Jesus there is no further novelty to seek.  His revelation is now spoken in fullness.  All the partial and various ways God spoke in the past are not abolished but fulfilled.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe (cf. Heb. 1:1-2).

Having received this word spoken through the Son we must resist the drive to further novelty.  We must resist idle curiosity.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! (cf. Gal 1:8)

Much of Christianity is being reminded of what we already know.  Apparently reminding people of this is a gift Barnabas had.

When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith [emphasis mine].

Simply encouraging continued fidelity to what they have received blesses the community at Antioch immensely.  One might not think that the results described in Acts would follow, yet they do:

And a large number of people was added to the Lord.

When the Church lives her vocation as Church well she is a more viable witness.  Remaining faithful is equivalent to retaining her saltiness, just as Jesus instructed yesterday.  Fidelity which begins in the heart can transform the whole being.  Building the Church really does bless the nation, as Al Kresta is wont to say.

There is a temptation to grow tired of the teachings we know.  There is the temptation to seek new methods and techniques to help us grow in holiness.  But, wonderfully or tragically, we know what we need to know.  We must now put it to use in fidelity.  When we do so we will be the salt and light the world needs.  The teaching of Jesus is a song of fidelity.  This song sounds superficially repetitive but it is always new.  There is no need to seek another song.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.