Both/And - Tomorrow's reading reflection

There are those who follow the letter of the law but fail to live the spirit of the law.  There are those who proclaim that they live the spirit of the law but can't be bothered with the letter of the law.  Then there are those who are just trying the best they can to follow both the letter and the spirit of the law.  I want to be their friends.

In the Gospel for today Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."  In the first reading St. Paul says that they have become ministers, "not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life."  

A black and white way of thinking will leave one saying, either the law or the spirit.  But Jesus and St. Paul are not in a black and white way of thinking.  In wisdom they see in color realizing the "both/and" reality.  We are to live according to the law as best we can, for we are not perfect at the agape thing called love; and we are to live according to the spirit because, as earthen vessels, only following the law begins to lead us to look constantly inward and judge ourselves according to the law rather than looking outward and living the law in love and service to those Christ places before us.

Will you try to do both/and today?  Will you try to live both the law and the spirit?