Pope John Paul II and Jesus' Message on Law

The selections from the New Testament and Pope John PaulÆs Encyclical Letter, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), demonstrate that one of manÆs fundamental searches is for the truth or law, something that will provided meaning and fulfillment and represent an absolute and inviolable answer. We see in the selections from Matthew, Luke, and Mark that Jesus was often called upon to answer questions from those seeking truth or the law. As Pope John Paul II writes in Fides et Ratio, it is a natural human impulse to ôask why things are as they areö (1998). Pope John Paul II further contends that people ôseek an absolute which might give to all their searching a meaning and an answerùsomething ultimate, which might serve as the ground of all thingsö (1998). The final explanation or supreme value searched for by human beings is demonstrated in the writings of Matthew, Luke and Mark, in which the answers of how to be one with God and welcomed in Heaven are provided.

In his Encyclical Letter, Pope John Paul II maintains that both human reason and faith are required to achieve a life in accordance with GodÆs law. Pope John Paul II maintains that the rich philosophical tradition helps to deepen understanding of the faith necessary to exhibit ôcritical discernmentö (1998). Calling for reason as a means of helping arrive at the truth of God and GodÆs law, Pope John Paul II argues that philosophical reasoning aims at such

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it of the law of God. The law of God is represented by the Ten Commandments, and anyone disobeying even the ôleast of these commandmentsö will be ôcalled leastö in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5: 19). Jesus also instructs the people that their ôrighteousnessö must surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law (Matthew 5: 20). This is because the law of the Pharisees and teachers is human law; similar to Pope John Paul IIÆs explanation that human reason is still the product of flawed human existence. GodÆs law supercedes any other law produced by humans, despite their contentions to the contrary. In Matthew 19: 16-26, we see that Jesus informs his followers that obeying the Ten Commandments is not the only requisite for gaining admittance to the kingdom of God. In addition to obeying GodÆs law, one must devote their life to helping the needy and dispossessed. As Jesus maintains, ôIf you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heavenö (Matthew 19: 21). We can see in this advice and JesusÆ warning that it is ôeasier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Godö that GodÆs law demands compassionate and merciful a
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