Do we really need any commandments?

In the first reading today I saw the situation: ‘When Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News, a man sat there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; and as he listened to Paul preaching, he managed to catch his eye. Seeing that the man had the faith to be cured, Paul said in a loud voice: Get to your feet – stand up, and the cripple jumped up and began to walk’.

And in today’s gospel I heard: ‘Jesus said to his disciples: Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; (…) If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him’.

In the time of reflection during our Mass, I’ve put this question in my mind: Lord Jesus, do we really need any commandments to be your people?

And I think that answer to this question is not too difficult. The answer is: YES and NO!

My imagination tells me: Tomasz, the commandments are like a handrails or crutches. If you are in good, health condition you don’t need any handrails to go upstairs of your house, and you don’t need any crutches for movement. You just jump upstairs anytime you want or walk wherever you want without even thinking about handrails and crutches. But…

If you have a health problem, if you are sick and can’t move or walk without help, you are thinking about handrails and crutches because you need them.

Let us back to the commandments…

If your relationship with God, with Jesus is healthy, full of love… You know, you are person who lives with God every day, and does all things with Him or because of Him… You don’t need any help for your spiritual life. Even you don’t think (care) about commandments because you live in the presence of the Lord. For example you don’t think about – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy – because you do it naturally…, for you Sunday without Mass, Holy Communion, and without Gospel is impossible. You can’t imagine this situation. You desire His presence. But…

If your relationship with God limps very often or limps more often than doesn’t limp, you need help for your walk with God. And then the commandment – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy – will pull you to be with God, will help you to keep your spiritual way, will help you to walk with God on Sunday when you are lazy.

Did you get my point? I’m sure you did.

So, now if you ask me – do we need any commandments? – I’m going to answer: check your heart, make a judgement of your love for God, others and yourself. Just be honest. I’m sure, your judgement will explain to you everything about necessity of commandments in your daily life.

Good luck!