90- Laws are Enacted As Kings Desire

 

St-Takla.org Image: King Alfonso VI of León and Castile (before June, 1040 – June 29/July 1, 1109), image from XII century, Cathedral of Santiago. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: الملك ألفونسو السادس (قولد قبل يونيو 1040 - 29 يونيو أو 1 يوليو 1109)، الصور من القرن الثاني عشر، كاتدرائية سانتياجو.

An Old Spanish proverb Alla reyes van leyes do quieren means that man uses his authority to realize his desires under the guise of abiding by the law.

Behind this proverb is a true story that goes back to the beginning of the twelfth century, when King Alfonso VI had to decide whether his country would use the Spanish or the Roman liturgies. He declared that he would throw both books into a fire and use whichever book that was not burn. The king wished to use the Roman liturgy. Therefore, when the Spanish book would not burn he threw it back into the fire until it burned. He then declared that the Roman liturgy would be used. From that time on, this proverb was used and spread by the Spanish people.⁽⁴⁾

It is a proverb that not only reveals the abuse of authority to establish laws suited to personal desires, but also reveals the ego in a person’s life, even in his dealings with God.

In all our prayers we say, “Thy will be done not ours”, but we are persistent in our prayers so that God may fulfill our own wishes. Many times we insist on pursuing a path determined by the ego or the body and we attempt to give it a religious perspective justifying it by all means.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: تجري القوانين في الطرق التي يشتهيها الملوك!

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