The Hebrew concept of Mitzva Ha-ba-a Be-Aveira (MA) essentially means a transgression that is required to fulfill a good deed. There are many instances when a good deed is an outcome of bad deeds, but the bad deeds were not actually required. The good deed could have just as well been fulfilled without any transgression. In the rare instance of a real MA the transgression in the equation instantly coexists as a mitzvah.
The best example of MA that comes to my mind is the life of Esther. Tradition tells us that she was not only the cousin or niece of Mordecai, she was his wife. She did not exactly go directly to become the queen of Persia. First she became one of many concubines of the pagan king while hiding her Jewishness. Even without the implied sordid details from tradition MA is applicable. But the details do reinforce the concept. Esther’s necessary transgression of many Jewish mitzvot became the salvation of the Jewish people.
Another somewhat relevant legend I’ve heard is that some Orthodox Jews consider St. Peter a tzaddik on account of his becoming like a Gentile to save Jews from Christianity. It’s obviously not true but an interesting Jewish Christian crossover and an example of MA in the Jewish view.
I think Joseph and Moses in Egypt are also good MA examples. The Mosaic Law had not yet been given but they may have had to appear idolatrous to not cause a scandal in the courts of the Pharaohs.
In my own writing about how Hebrew Catholics must love the Jewish people by becoming Josephs and Esthers, in some Rabbinic views a Hebrew Catholic Jew might only be redeemed if his vocation is seen as a MA. I think my prescription for Hebrew Catholics to love the Jews more than satisfies this opinion. I would also suggest that if a Hebrew Catholic is ambivalent to Jews he is likely not transgressing. However, a Jewish convert or descendant who is aggressive against Jews may be invoking harsh judgement against himself. Pablo Christiani comes to mind.
What can a Catholic learn from MA? I’ll try to get personal but vague. I am a Catholic neophyte. New to confession. There are things I was in habit of doing that the church considers sins. I don’t have confidence in my own the ability to sin no more immediately. I can only pray for God’s mercy in confession knowing without supernatural grace I will continue to stumble over certain things.
What if I do extract from all sin in this world? Certainly if I did now I may have difficulty relating to others who struggle with sin. I could quickly fall into the sin of pride if I extricated from my current sin habits. Furthermore my blessed life is built on many sequences that started out sinful and were redeemed later.
Perhaps I shouldn’t speculate, but is it possible that the sin inclinations I struggle with right now are teachers so I will grow in love and mercy towards others who I perceive to be in graver sinful states?
We are in no position to spiritually judge other men. We must judge all favorably. For we are all sinners. “JUDGE not, that you may not be judged.”
I have some percolating thoughts regarding how the MA concept went off the rails with Sabbatai Zevi and was controversially reconciled with Jacob Frank. I’ll do it in a part 2.
