Reject unsettling news

Jeanne Schuler shares a truth which is a theme within the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The prophetic voice unsettles us. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the message of the letter to the Thessalonians today is about the need of the community to conform to social behaviour which Paul meant to be an example of how to live the Christian life. Those who choose not to imitate a lifestyle appropriate for disciples which was modeled by Paul, should not be considered part of the group. Paul exhorted all to work and avoid being a burden on the community. Some community members had apparently responded to the sense of the imminent end to the world by ceasing to be busy at work and becoming disorderly busy bodies. The Gospel from Matthew continues Jesus proclamation of seven woes against the Pharisees. Friar Jude reminds us the comparison of their presence in the community to white washed tombs is particularly cutting in a culture which held all contact with dead bodies to be abhorrent. The claim by the Pharisees that they did not kill the Prophets like their ancestors is rejected by Jesus as He declares that they continue the slaughter of their ancestors by killing the Word of the Prophets. Our culture, which too often fails to seek below the surface of popular self help slogans and misconceptions about spirituality and religion, continues to choose to turn a deaf ear to messages like that of Pope Francis who is quoted expressing a prophetic message about Church by the Evangelizo web site as a meditation on the Gospel passage.