Tuesday, VIII Week of Ordinary Time
(Sirach 35)
A Dominican theologian was explaining St. Thomas Aquinas’ moral theology to a group of young European families. He went to a blackboard and drew a small box in its corner. He said, “In that square are the commandments.” Then he asked if that is what morality is about. Everyone responded, “Of course.” But the Dominican disagreed. “No,” he said, “God is not much interested in commandments. Then he drew a box covering the rest of the blackboard. “That is freedom,” he said, “that is what interests God. Your task is to teach your children to be free.”
St. Thomas does emphasize the need for law. He teaches that all law -- natural, human, and revealed – has divine origin and is necessary to keep us on track. But law hardly comes to terms with all of morality. So the wise man says in the first reading, “In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts.” Truly virtuous people go far beyond what the law prescribes in assisting neighbor, in building community, and in praising God.
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