We often view God's laws in a stupid, adolescent way. We see them as mere prohibitions or burdens. However, His laws are lifesaving insights into life. For example, we can learn that contraceptive marital sexual relations will undermine a marriage by causing alienation between the spouses and often divorce. We can learn this from God's law and use this revelation to protect and nurture marriage (Catechism, 2370), or we can learn this by having our hearts broken through many years of marital conflict. How many people have proven the truth of God's law by not following it, and thereby turned their lives into experiments that have failed miserably?

How precious is God's law! It is worth more than thousands of gold and silver pieces (Ps 119:72). It is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Ps 119:105). Even the smallest part of a letter of God's law is to be cherished and lovingly obeyed (see Mt 5:18).

Observe God's law "carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people' " (Dt 4:6).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 14, 2007

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