A striking action of many who travel or go into war is that they will often carry with them a photograph of their loved ones. This reminds them of their loved ones, and so the photo becomes a cherished and treasured possession. It would cause great upset to the person if they were to lose it. Yet, while it retains its value, the photo becomes less important when they are reunited with their loved ones. Why? Because the loved person is far superior to the photograph.

This image helps us understand the relationship between Jesus and ‘the law (Torah) and the prophets’. The latter will not pass away; they retain their purpose and value. They are expressions of ‘the word of God’. Yet they find their ultimate meaning in Christ. Just as the photograph points to the person, the law and prophets point us to Jesus.

Jesus is ‘the Word made flesh’. He is the origin and living embodiment of all to which the law and prophets point. He is superior to them in the same way as the person is superior to the photograph, yet even more so. Several of the prophets, including Jeremiah, point to a day when the law would no longer be written on tablets of stone (as the 10 Commandments were) or on dusty scrolls. Rather, the law would be written upon people’s hearts (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus is the definitive fulfilment of this prophecy.

The law written in stone or on scrolls accomplishes its purpose when it becomes the law written on our hearts. During these days of Lent, let us pray that God’s law will truly come alive in each one of us, guiding our actions and bringing Christ alive within us.

by Fr Michael Grace