The Law of the Gospel
God gave us His Law in two ways. The first way was called the Old Law, which God gave to the Israelites through Moses at around 1400 B.C. Hence, it has been called the Mosaic Law or the Law of Moses. The second way was called the New Law, which God gave to us through His Son, Jesus. Hence, it has been called the Law of Jesus Christ or the Law of the Gospel.
The scroll that Ezra read in the Book of Nehemiah was the Old Law (Nehemiah 8:8). The Old Law was the first stage of the revelation of God’s Law and it is summarized in the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments guide our conscience; it tells us to do what is good in the eyes of God, and it tells us not to do what is evil in the eyes of God. However, the Old Law is imperfect because although it tells people what should and should not be done, it does not in itself give the grace to accomplish it. The Old Law served as a preparation for the Gospel (CCC 1982).
The scroll that Jesus read in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 4:18-19) was the prophecy of the coming of the anointed one – the Messiah – whom God will send to His people to free them from bondage. When Jesus said: “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21), He declared publicly for the first time that He is the Messiah. The Gospel teaches us that this prophecy, like the other main prophecies in the Old Testament, refers to Christ and is fulfilled in His person.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) The source of the power of the Law of the Gospel is the grace of the Holy Spirit which comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ. The Law of the Gospel perfects the Old Law by reforming the heart – which is the root of human acts – to choose what is pure and to imitate the perfection of God, to forgive our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, and to grow in the virtues of faith, hope and charity (CCC 1968).
This Law of the Gospel is summarized in the command of Jesus that we are to love one another as He has loved us (cf. John 15:12). The Law of the Gospel is a law of love, a law of grace and a law of freedom (CCC 1985). The Law of the Gospel is a Law of Love because it challenges us to act out of love which comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a Law of Grace because it gives us the grace to act by means of faith and the reception of the sacraments. It is a Law of Freedom because it has set us free from the legalistic observance of God’s Law, but more importantly, because it enables us to be free from the slavery of sin. The Law of the Gospel has not changed the Ten Commandments, but it changes us, beginning with our minds and hearts. We no longer view the commandments as a set of rules, but as a Law that we are empowered to follow and obey, because of our love for God, who has loved us first through Jesus Christ.
Please check our church website hnojatl.org for the latest COVID Guidelines from Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer and the CDC. Everyone is advised to wear a mask while inside the church buildings. Masks, hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes are available for your use.
Our Chinese New Year Mass and ceremony will be held on February 6, 2022. All are invited to participate. Due to the celebration of Chinese New Year on February 6, 2022, the Anointing of the Sick which is normally scheduled on the First Sunday of the month will take place on January 30, 2022. In addition, the Blessing of the Throats through the intercession of St. Blase will also take place on the same day. Therefore, immediately after the 10:30 am Mass on January 30, there will be the Blessing of the Throats followed by the Anointing of the Sick.
Attention Finance Council members, there will be a meeting in the conference room right after the 10:30 am Mass.
Prayer List：Zheng Zhiming 、Wang Dacheng 、Qu Wei 、Mao Baiqin 、Wang Shuangsan 、Pan Bo Hao 、Long Guorui 、Zhang Qiang 、Xu Taicheng 、Qiu Laihao。