The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge the authenticity with which we lead our lives as followers of Christ.
Authentic Living
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans declares the righteous Judgement of God.
* [2:1–11] As a first step in his demonstration that Jews enjoy no real moral supremacy over Gentiles, Paul explains that the final judgment will be a review of performance, not of privilege. From this perspective Gentiles stand on an equal footing with Jews, and Jews cannot condemn the sins of Gentiles without condemning themselves.1
Psalm 62 is a song of trust in God Alone.
* [Psalm 62] A song of trust displaying serenity from experiencing God’s power (the refrains of Ps 62:2–3 and Ps 62:6–7) and anger toward unjust enemies (Ps 62:4–5). From the experience of being rescued, the psalmist can teach others to trust in God (Ps 62:9–12).2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus declares “Woe to you Pharisees!”
* [11:44] Unseen graves: contact with the dead or with human bones or graves (see Nm 19:16) brought ritual impurity. Jesus presents the Pharisees as those who insidiously lead others astray through their seeming attention to the law.3
Scott McClure comments that Jesus admonishes a Pharisee for his judgment; for the appearance of purity on the outside while harboring evil within. Judgment, Jesus seems to communicate, is an unjustifiable practice for those who are, themselves, imperfect. (See John 8:7 for more on this point.) Recently, Pope Francis communicated consonance with this teaching. A September 27 America article reported recent words of Pope Francis: "Let us ask for the grace to overcome the temptation to judge and to categorize." In short, if Jesus can not only not judge while hanging on the cross but continue giving, who are we to judge?
Judgment is all too easy, especially when we feel wronged, offended or threatened. These situations or even the mere perception of them, we think, can justify our judgment. If there ever was justified human judgment, I imagine Jesus may have exercised it while hanging on the cross. He did not. Rather, he prayed that God may forgive his transgressors. He continued and continues to give all to us. He continues to seek communion with us rather than division from us.4
Don Schwager quotes “Binding heavy burdens on others,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Just as the scribes and Pharisees wickedly sat upon the throne of Moses, so do some in the church who sit upon the ecclesiastical throne. There are some in the church who have the right understanding of the law and pass it on correctly. They say what each person needs to do, but they themselves do not do it. Some of them lay heavy burdens upon the shoulders of men, but they won't even lift a finger to help. These are the ones the Savior is talking about when he says, 'Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God' (Matthew 5:19). There are others, however, who sit on the throne, who act before they speak and speak wisely, restraining those who are disordered. They place merciful burdens on the shoulders of others. They themselves are the first to lift the heavy burden, for the exhortation of other listeners. It is these of whom the Lord speaks when he says, 'He who does so and teaches others to do so, this man will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 9)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 2:1-11 comments that we know that we will all face judgment. But until that time, how does God deal with our sinfulness? He shows us “priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience” (Romans 2:4). And he does this because he wants to lead us to repent and return to him. He deeply wants us to enter into that close friendship with him that we were created for.
Today, Jesus stretches out his hand to grab hold of yours. He asks you to let go of the sin that drags you down. In him, our heavenly Father hasn’t just revealed his desire to save us. God has come alongside us, and he has dealt with the deepest root of our sinfulness. He has opened for us the way back to himself. This is the patience of God. This is his forbearance. This is his kindness, which lovingly calls us to repentance. “Father, let me never take your kindness for granted.”6
Friar Jude Winkler connects the message in Romans to the Gentiles yesterday to the mercy of God expressed by Paul in Chapter 3 of Romans. If the religiosity of Pharisees were applied today, we would count grains of salt to offer to God. Friar Jude reminds us of the corruption that comes from inauthentic lives.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that those of us who grew up with the common Trinitarian notion of God probably saw reality, consciously or unconsciously, as a pyramid-shaped universe, with God at the top of the triangle and all else beneath. We like the pyramid. Knowing the line of authority or the pecking order can take away our anxiety. But this is exactly what the Trinity is not—the early fathers of the church said that the closest metaphor we can get for God is a circle dance of communion. It’s not hierarchical, monarchical, or a pyramid. [1] The following passage from Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, a theologian and Cherokee descendant, describes the power of understanding life through the symbol of the circle.
One model of understanding our relationship to everything is a simple symbol used among Native Americans: the circle. The harmony way of living is often referred to symbolically as a circle or a hoop. . . . Perhaps you remember when you were a child and an adult said something like, “OK, kids, gather around” or “Let’s get in a circle,” or simply, “Circle up.” Circles are found in nature; perhaps that’s why we are so comfortable imitating the pattern. . . . The circle has no beginning and no end, so one can enter at any place or stage. The circle can explain stages of life, values, and different people groups. Circles can explain the seasons, how they all continue on to create harmony and balance. Life is a sacred circle. When we gather in a circle, the praying has already begun. When we gather in a circle, we communicate with each other and with Great Mystery, even without a word being spoken. [2]7
Examination, guided by the Spirit, of our relationships with people is helpful in discovering the areas in which we need to become more authentic.
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