The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today emphasize our attitude of patience as we work with finding the path that most highlights our vocation as Jesus disciples.
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The reading from the Letter to the Romans describes the righteous judgement of God particularly on those Jews who had forgotten the obligations of the Law and Prophets.
* [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 that shows serenity.
* [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
Jesus continues denunciation of the practices of the Pharisees and Scholars of the Law in the Gospel of Luke.
* [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
Tom Drzaic finds, in the passage from Romans, a great reminder to always be kind and mindful, taking into consideration a person’s circumstances, looking to meet them where they are at in their life journey.
In the Gospel, Jesus words to the Pharisees struck me as harsh and direct, but necessary. How often do we see examples of someone getting caught up in the trappings of success, fortune and position? They then are more concerned with maintaining and adding to their position then with the well-being of others. This left me to reflect on what am I working for? Am I keeping in proper balance any ambitions I have with adding to the greater good? Am I adding to someone’s burden or making it lighter?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 Luke 11:42-46 comments that Jesus’ constant concern about his opponents was by focusing so much on God’s Law, they lost sight of the people that the Law was meant to protect. Nobody can live off of garden herbs! But that didn’t matter; they just wanted to satisfy the bare minimum.
In an April 2016 address, Pope Francis discussed this very issue. He cautioned us against seeing almsgiving as a “burden or an annoyance from which to free ourselves in haste.” Rather, he said, we should “stop and look in the face, in the eyes of that person who is asking me” (Jubilee Audience, April 9, 2016).
See the people you are helping. Focus on the child of God in front of you. Do this, and you will end up obeying God’s commands more fully than if you were to focus only on the commandments themselves.
According to St. Paul, “The whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14). Generosity. Kindness. Compassion. Forgiveness. This is how we fulfill God’s laws.6
Friar Jude Winkler comments that God acts with compassion in response to the failings of Jew and Gentile in Rome. An over scrupulous attitude like the Pharisees is hypocritical and may be a burden on many. Friar Jude reminds that the Law is intended to bring us closer to God.
A post by Franciscan Media notes that Pope Saint John XXIII, who beatified Mère Marie Marguerite d'Youville in 1959, called her the “Mother of Universal Charity.” She was canonized in 1990. Her Liturgical Feast Day is October 16.
Saints deal with plenty of discouragement, plenty of reasons to say, “Life isn’t fair” and wonder where God is in the rubble of their lives. We honor saints like Marguerite because they show us that with God’s grace and our cooperation, suffering can lead to compassion rather than bitterness.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, continues with Robert McAfee Brown, who uses an excerpt from the Book of Jeremiah to describe knowing God: What does it mean to “know God”? Who are the ones who know God?
There is a short—and startling—episode in the book of Jeremiah [22:13-17] that poses the question of “knowing God” in quite another way.
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,and his upper rooms by injustice;who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing,and does not give him his wages;who says, “I will build myself a great housewith spacious upper rooms,”and cuts out windows for it,paneling it with cedar,and painting it with vermilion.Do you think you are a kingbecause you compete in cedar?Did not your father eat and drinkand do justice and righteousness?Then it was well with him.He judged the cause of the poor and needy;then it was well.Is not this to know me?says the Lord.But you have eyes and heartonly for your dishonest gain,for shedding innocent blood,and for practicing oppression and violence.8
The attitudes of doing the minimum and scrupulous over attention to externals are present and require us to patiently address with examples of faithfulness to our vocation.
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