Judgement and Hypocrisy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our religious practices and seek the guidance of the Spirit for the path correction we may need.

Guide For Our Action

The reading from Second Thessalonians advises awareness of The Man of Lawlessness

* [2:15] Reference to an oral statement and a letter (2 Thes 2:2) and the content here, including a formula of conclusion (cf. 1 Cor 16:13; Gal 5:1), suggest that 2 Thes 2:1–15 or even 2 Thes 2:1–17 are to be taken as a literary unit, notwithstanding the incidental thanksgiving formula in 2 Thes 2:13. (2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 offers Praise to God Who Comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus declares “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”

* [23:24] Cf. Lv 11:41–45 that forbids the eating of any “swarming creature.” The Pharisees’ scrupulosity about minor matters and neglect of greater ones (Mt 23:23) is further brought out by this contrast between straining liquids that might contain a tiny “swarming creature” and yet swallowing the camel. The latter was one of the unclean animals forbidden by the law (Lv 11:4), but it is hardly possible that the scribes and Pharisees are being denounced as guilty of so gross a violation of the food laws. To swallow the camel is only a hyperbolic way of speaking of their neglect of what is important.

* [23:25–26] The ritual washing of utensils for dining (cf. Mk 7:4) is turned into a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored. The scribes and Pharisees are compared to cups carefully washed on the outside but filthy within. Self-indulgence: the Greek word here translated means lack of self-control, whether in drinking or in sexual conduct. (Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not available at publication time.

Don Schwager quotes “Neglecting Weighty Matters of Love and Justice,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Not only among the Jews but among ourselves as well, we find people sinning in these ways. They are swallowing camels. People of this type frequently show off their religion even in the smallest of things. They are rightly called hypocrites for wanting to exploit their religiosity before men but being unwilling to undertake that very faith which God himself has justified. Therefore the imitators of the scribes and Pharisees must be dislodged and sent away from us, lest a woe touches us in the same way it touches them. The scribes could be described as those who valued nothing found in the Scriptures except its plain sense interpreted legalistically. Meanwhile they condemn those who look into the very depths of God himself. Mint and dill and cummin are only spices for food but are not themselves substantial food. What substantive food would mean in conversion would be that which is necessary for the justification of our souls - faith and love - unlike these legalisms, which are more like condiments and flavorings. It is as if a meal might be thought to consist more of condiments and flavorings than the food itself. The seriousness of judgment is neglected while great attention is given to minor matters. Spiritual exercises which in and of themselves are hardly justice are spoken of as justice and compassion and faith. It is lacking in justice to treat these small parts as the whole. When we do not offer to God the observance of all that is necessary for worship, we fail altogether." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 19-20) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 23:23-26 comments that sometimes we need cleaning up on the inside as well. We may exert all our energy in doing godly things, but we do them with the wrong attitude or disposition.

Of course, Jesus is always pleased when you serve the poor or spend time worshipping him. He also knows that none of us can control every thought that comes into our minds. But you can do something. Whenever you realize that your attitude has wandered out of line, stop right away and ask the Lord for forgiveness. He knows you well, and he knows that you are trying to please him. He will be merciful and help you the next time you are tempted by judgmental, critical, or resentful thoughts. He may even flood your heart at that moment with love for the person you are judging!

You can be clean both on the inside and outside. Turn to Jesus and trust that he can—and will—change your heart to become more like his.

“Father, give me a heart like Jesus, filled with love and mercy!” (Meditation on Matthew 23:23-26, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the author of 2 Thessalonians writes in Paul’s name not to believe rumours about the end of the world that may take some time to come and we are called to live as witnesses to Christ. Friar Jude reminds us of the hypocrisy of over scrupulous attention to the details that are not indicative of a change of heart.

Brian McLaren describes how Jesus often provoked disruption to move people beyond the status quo. McLaren invites us to trust the Spirit’s call to keep moving.

This disruptive revolution, this liberation, this great spiritual migration begins with each of us presenting ourselves, with all of our doubts and imperfections, all of our failures, fears, and flaws, to the Spirit…. You. Me. Everyone. No exceptions. 

 “The moving ever shall stay,” [twelfth-century Hindu mystic and poet] Basava said. [2] Those words contradict so much of our inherited religious sensibility. “Stay the same. Don’t move. Hold on. Survival depends on resistance to change,” we were told again and again. “Foment change. Keep moving. Evolve. Survival depends on mobility,” the Spirit persistently says. That prompting tells us that the migration we seek is not merely from one static location to another. It is, rather, from one static location to a journey of endless growth.  

If you want to see the future of Christianity … don’t look at a church building. Go look in the mirror and look at your neighbor. God’s message of love is sent into the world in human envelopes. If you want to see a great spiritual migration begin, then let it start right in your body. Let your life be a foothold of liberation. (McLaren, n.d.)

We are aware of forces that attempt to distort our understanding of how we serve as followers of Christ and we invoke the Spirit to illuminate the path we need to choose for our transformation.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23? 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). Positive Disruption. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/positive-disruption/ 

Meditation on Matthew 23:23-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/27/1061394/ 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?10 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug27 

2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/2?1 

Ancestral Support in Fruitfulness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, challenge us to respond to the work of our ancestors in preparing a path for our participation in the work of preparing our environment to be open to the Way of Jesus to fullness of life.

Faith of our Ancestors

The reading from the Book of Sirach is a Hymn in Honour of Our Ancestors.

* [44:1–15] The reader is here introduced to those people of Israel, later mentioned by name, who through various achievements and beneficial social activities have acquired great renown (vv. 1–8, 14–15); and also to those who, though forgotten, endure through the fruit of their virtues and through their families because of God’s covenant with them (vv. 9–15). (Sirach, CHAPTER 44 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Prophet Jeremiah proclaims the Restoration of Israel.

* [3:14–18] A remnant of Israel (v. 14) will reunite with Judah (v. 18). The former Israelite community, represented by the ark of the covenant, will be replaced by a universal alliance, symbolized by Jerusalem, the Lord’s throne, to which all nations will be gathered (v. 17). (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response in Jeremiah celebrates gathering Israel.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower.

* [13:18–23] See Mk 4:14–20; Lk 8:11–15. In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness, respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. The four types of persons envisaged are (1) those who never accept the word of the kingdom (Mt 13:19); (2) those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution (Mt 13:20–21); (3) those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches (Mt 13:22); (4) those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly (Mt 13:23). (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Hopp comments that this parable points out that we will not always be successful; the seeds He sows through us will not always produce the results we can see.   We must continue sowing.  We are called not to just hear and understand, but also to bear fruit.  Jesus is asking us to not only be part of the planting, but also to be part of the joyous harvest.  It is only through His agape love that He can orchestrate such a harvest through us. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your truly incredible love and seemingly endless patience.  You care about each of us and shower us with your GRACE.  Give us your eyes to see and ears to hear the cries of this world.  Use each of us as we reach out and touch the lives of those you have placed within our small personal world.  Help us to be more like you each and every moment of our lives.  In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “God's word is like good seed sown in the heart,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).

"'And the one sown upon good ground is he who hears the word, understands it and bears fruit.' Even as on bad ground there were three diverse situations (by the path, upon rocky ground and among thorns), so too on good ground the diversity is of three types: fruit of one hundredfold, sixtyfold and thirtyfold. Both in one and the other there is a change that takes place in the will, not in the nature itself. In both the unbelievers and believers it is the heart that receives the seed. 'The wicked one comes,' he says, 'and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.' In the second and third cases, he says, 'That is he who hears the word.' In the explanation of the good ground, he is the one who hears the word. First we must listen, then understand; after understanding, we must bear the fruits of good teaching and yield fruit either one hundredfold, sixtyfold or thirtyfold." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.13.23) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 13:18-23 comments that Jesus’ work in us is not done. He wants to make the “soil” of our hearts rich so that we can produce “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:23). And so he lovingly invites us into his work of reclamation. He wants us to pick up our trowel and join him in his work of tilling.

How? Notice that those in Jesus’ parable who fell away initially heard “the word of the Kingdom,” but they did not understand it or persevere in nourishing the seed of that word (Matthew 13:19). Understanding God’s word and then acting on it are the keys to bearing fruit. Our tilling of the soil requires that we dig deep into the Scriptures. Then, as we pray and listen to the Lord, he will help us discover what his word means for our lives. But it’s not all up to us. We still need Jesus, our “Good Farmer,” to water and fertilize the soil of our hearts with his grace so we can do whatever he asks of us.

Our God is so faithful. Let’s trust him to bring about an abundant harvest!

“Jesus, thank you for the work you are doing in me so that I can bear fruit for your kingdom.” (Meditation on Matthew 13:18-23, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that our texts referencing Joachim and Anne come from apocryphal books. Jeremiah exhorts the people who may have fallen into a pattern of superstition to focus on the return to Mt. Zion in worship and righteousness. Friar Jude notes that the explanation of the Parable of the Sower  emphasizes the need to use our intellect, strength, and possessions to work with the Spirit to prepare the “good soil”.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, emphasizes how inner transformation needs to extend outward to the world. Step 12, Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs, found a way to expose and transform that perpetual adolescence by telling us early on that we must serve others. Supporting others in their healing is not an option, not something we might eventually be “called” to after thirty-five religious retreats and fifty years of church services. It isn’t something we do when we finally get our act together. No; we don’t truly comprehend any spiritual thing until we give it away. Spiritual gifts increase only by “using” them. 

The author of the Letter of James always insists on orthopraxy instead of mere verbal orthodoxy: “To listen to the word and not obey it is like looking at your own features in a mirror, and then, after a quick look, going off and immediately forgetting what you look like” (1:23–24). For James, to “actively put it into practice is to be happy in all that one does” (1:25) and “if good works do not accompany faith, it is quite dead” (2:17). James is a unique apostle of the Twelve Step behavioral approach. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are anointed by our Baptism to be a priest, prophet, and leader, energized by our relationship with Jesus, to accept the prompting of the Spirit to prepare the good soil by our actions for the work of God in the plentiful harvest.

References

Hopp, L. (2024, July 26). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072624.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/3?14 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?18 

Meditation on Matthew 13:18-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/26/1032949/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Not for Ourselves Alone. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/not-for-ourselves-alone/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul26 

Sirach, CHAPTER 44 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/44