Laws

Often we hear people say: "We have enough laws, enough interdictions, laws that prevent us from being free!" I quote on this subject a few excerpts from an article of Christian Beaulieu, published in the magazine "Je Crois" (I Believe):

"Laws are there to PERMIT and not to PROHIBIT. They are like indispensable markers that show us the way and teach us to act in an orderly manner."

 

We are inevitably submitted to certain laws, such as those of nature, society and the law of God. This law that God has given us shows us where we are going and how we must act in order to live fully and happily. Since we all live in a human community, we need to follow certain rules to make our life together possible and harmonious.

Here is an example. Imagine what would happen if we didn't have any traffic rules: it would be simply impossible to use a car! What's more, without laws and regulations, you wouldn't even be able to have a car or anything else, because anyone could take it away from you. And then, you wouldn't have any recourse, because, in these conditions, the only law would be the one of the strongest, that is, "the law of the jungle".

Laws are a group of rules that establish order so that you can live freely. It is the same thing with the laws of nature: if you don't abide by them, be it with respect to your body or to the environment, these laws will turn against you and you will not be able to live fully. In our times, with the rapid growth of the world's population, the problem of the violation of the laws of nature is not individual any more; we are all concerned. Therefore, if we don't learn together to respect the laws of nature in this earth, we will all perish... and nature with us.

We also need to be fully aware that moral beacons are essential in our lives. They are like reference points or guidelines for our actions that help us see what is the right thing to do, and then do it.

"Our violent and unjust world is in search of an ethic. This world is enticed by riches and power: it clamours for a back to basics", writes Jean Rigal.

"The most serious crisis of our time is probably that we have driven God and His law away from our lives", continues Christian Beaulieu. This law of God consists in loving: "You will love your neighbour as yourself". And he continues:

"The law has the role of a guardian, but one day the guardian must disappear to give way to LOVE as the only criterion of all the laws. When one reaches this high level of conscience, one passes from the law to LOVE, from the flesh to the SPIRIT".

 

It is toward this depth of interior life that you are called to lead your steps. In the meantime... we are on the road. So... let us respect the laws. It is a question of life.