Holiness Mercy and Compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder if holiness can exist when we neglect the practice of Justice, Mercy and Faith.

Mercy and Compassion

The reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians alerts us to separate Christ and the Lawless One.

* [2:1–17] The Thessalonians have been shaken by a message purporting to come from Paul himself that the day of the Lord is already present. He warns against this deception in eschatology by citing a scenario of events that must first occur (2 Thes 2:3–12) before the end will come. The overall point Paul makes is the need to reject such lies as Satan sends; he also reaffirms the Thessalonians in their calling (2 Thes 2:13–14). (2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 proclaims that even inanimate creation is to offer praise to God.

* [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.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Pharisees’ preoccupation with matters of less importance while they neglect the weightier things of the law.

* [23:23] The Mosaic law ordered tithing of the produce of the land (Lv 27:30; Dt 14:22–23), and the scribal tradition is said here to have extended this law to even the smallest herbs. The practice is criticized not in itself but because it shows the Pharisees’ preoccupation with matters of less importance while they neglect the weightier things of the law.

* [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.)

Suzanne Braddock remembers Fr. Pat Malone, and the compelling nature both to him and to his preaching. He invited us into the reality of life: joys and sufferings. But most of all he invited us to “bless the world.” He shined a light on the path we, as Christians, are meant to follow through acts of mercy and kindness.

Recently I have heard several other priests at different Masses approach the living of the Christian life differently. It shocked me. Their emphasis was on “getting to heaven.” This was their only advice to how to live the Christian life. Directives such as. “Be holy - that’s the only thing you need to be,” and “Where are you in the stages of prayer? How advanced are you in the spiritual life?” It seemed to foster a self-centered approach. What about all those others around us? What about the suffering, the starving, the bombed in wars, the homeless? The lonely, the elderly? The sick? The migrant?

Getting to heaven might be the last thing on our minds if we are immersed in care for others. Heaven will take care of itself.

We strive to live in the Word. (Braddock, 2026)

In the presentation and book, “Compassion and Solidarity - The Church For Others (CBC Massey Lecture Series, 1987)”, Gregory Baum presents the Faith and Justice movement in the churches -- especially the Roman Catholic Church -- together with the considerable opposition to it. Baum presents the history of the cycle of emphasis in Christianity from periods of focus on compassion and solidarity to periods of personal holiness as the path to heaven.

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.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts today.

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17 comments that we live in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to discern what is real or true. That means it’s more important than ever for us to be careful and responsible consumers of media. Even when the material is authentic, we might still find ourselves troubled in spirit. The sheer volume of bad news can be corrosive and discouraging.

How can we respond to these harmful influences? Cutting out some media time is one part of the equation. But the other part is just as important: replace it with times of intentional quiet listening in the presence of the Lord. He can help you to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). You can do this by seeking refuge in the Scriptures or by focusing on the beautiful qualities that you see in other human beings, all of whom are made in God’s image and are deeply loved by the Lord.

Do everything you can to remain grounded in “our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Not only will you be protected from the worst of the rancor and division, but you will find the peace that only the Lord can give.

“Jesus, help me always remain rooted in you!” (Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr appreciates the purpose the false or egoic self serves, while encouraging us not over-identify with it. Our false self, which we might also call our small or separate self, is our launching pad: our body image, our job, our education, our clothes, our money, our success, and so on. These are the functional trappings of ego that we all use to get us through an ordinary day. However, they are largely projections of our self-image and our attachment to it.

Discovering the true self is not just a matter of chronological age. Some spiritually precocious young people see through the false self rather early, while some old men and old women are still dressing it up. If all we have at the end of our life is our separate or false self, there will not be much to eternalize. These costumes are transitory and impermanent, useful to us in our development, but also largely created by the mental ego. The false self is what changes, passes, and dies when we die. Only our true self lives forever.

Before we have encountered our true self, our false self is who we think we are. But our thinking does not make it true. The false self is primarily a social construct to get us started on life’s journey. It is a set of agreements made during childhood with our parents, family, neighbors, school friends, partner or spouse, and religion. Jesus might call it an “old wineskin,” which he points out cannot hold any new wine (Mark 2:22). (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit as we work to pour the New Wine of compassion, solidarity, faith, and mercy into the old wine skins of self centered personal holiness. 

References

Braddock, S. (2026, August 25). Daily Reflection August 25, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-25-2026 

Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23? 

Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/25/1653913/ 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Releasing Our False Self. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/releasing-our-false-self/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Neglect Justice, Mercy and Faith. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/2?1 

Wisdom Avoids Hypocrisy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our understanding about the nature of sin and act to implement Jesus' Way of love, mercy, and compassion in our relationship with our community and environment.

Choose the Way

The Reading from the Book of Sirach declares God is neither the cause nor the occasion of sin.

* [15:11–20] Here Ben Sira links freedom of the will with human responsibility. God, who sees everything, is neither the cause nor the occasion of sin. We have the power to choose our behavior and we are responsible for both the good and the evil we do (vv. 15–17).

* [15:20] Deceivers: those who hold the Lord responsible for their sins. (Sirach, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 119 delights in the law’s consolations and begs for wisdom to understand the precepts.

* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them…

* [119:19] A sojourner in the land: like someone without the legal protection of a native inhabitant, the psalmist has a special need for the guidance of God’s teaching. (Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims The True Wisdom.

* [2:6–3:4] Paul now asserts paradoxically what he has previously been denying. To the Greeks who “are looking for wisdom” (1 Cor 1:22), he does indeed bring a wisdom, but of a higher order and an entirely different quality, the only wisdom really worthy of the name. The Corinthians would be able to grasp Paul’s preaching as wisdom and enter into a wisdom-conversation with him if they were more open to the Spirit and receptive to the new insight and language that the Spirit teaches.

* [2:7–10a] God’s wisdom: his plan for our salvation. This was his own eternal secret that no one else could fathom, but in this new age of salvation he has graciously revealed it to us. For the pattern of God’s secret, hidden to others and now revealed to the Church, cf. also Rom 11:25–36; 16:25–27; Eph 1:3–10; 3:3–11; Col 1:25–28.

* [2:8] The rulers of this age: this suggests not only the political leaders of the Jews and Romans under whom Jesus was crucified (cf. Acts 4:25–28) but also the cosmic powers behind them (cf. Eph 1:20–23; 3:10). They would not have crucified the Lord of glory: they became the unwitting executors of God’s plan, which will paradoxically bring about their own conquest and submission (1 Cor 15:24–28). (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus’ teaching about the Law, Anger, and Adultery.

* [5:17–20] This statement of Jesus’ position concerning the Mosaic law is composed of traditional material from Matthew’s sermon documentation (see note on Mt 5:1–7:29), other Q material (cf. Mt 18; Lk 16:17), and the evangelist’s own editorial touches. To fulfill the law appears at first to mean a literal enforcement of the law in the least detail: until heaven and earth pass away nothing of the law will pass (Mt 5:18). Yet the “passing away” of heaven and earth is not necessarily the end of the world understood, as in much apocalyptic literature, as the dissolution of the existing universe. The “turning of the ages” comes with the apocalyptic event of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and those to whom this gospel is addressed are living in the new and final age, prophesied by Isaiah as the time of “new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17; 66:22). Meanwhile, during Jesus’ ministry when the kingdom is already breaking in, his mission remains within the framework of the law, though with significant anticipation of the age to come, as the following antitheses (Mt 5:21–48) show.

* [5:19] Probably these commandments means those of the Mosaic law. But this is an interim ethic “until heaven and earth pass away.”

* [5:21–48] Six examples of the conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. Each deals with a commandment of the law, introduced by You have heard that it was said to your ancestors or an equivalent formula, followed by Jesus’ teaching in respect to that commandment, But I say to you; thus their designation as “antitheses.” Three of them accept the Mosaic law but extend or deepen it (Mt 5:21–22; 27–28; 43–44); three reject it as a standard of conduct for the disciples (Mt 5:31–32; 33–37; 38–39). (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Elvin Cardoso, SJ shares “When I make choices each day, am I asking only what is required of me, or am I allowing God to shape the intentions of my heart?”

St. Paul deepens this understanding by challenging our assumptions about wisdom itself. The wisdom of the world prizes strength, recognition, and control. It appears impressive, yet it fades quickly. God’s wisdom, revealed most clearly in the cross of Christ, looks entirely different. What the world sees as weakness, God uses as the path to salvation. This wisdom cannot be grasped by intelligence alone, but it requires humility, trust, and openness to the Spirit. Paul reminds us that God is always at work beyond what we can see, offering peace, meaning, and hope even amid uncertainty.

In the Gospel, Jesus leads us beyond a faith of rules into a faith of the heart. He honors the law, yet reveals its deepest meaning by drawing our attention to our inner attitudes and intentions. What truly matters is not outward compliance but the spirit from which our actions arise. By addressing anger and violence, Jesus calls us to reverence every person, every relationship, and life itself. His wisdom is relational, not controlling, inviting us freely into love shaped by purpose. (Cardoso, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “What you teach, you should do,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"While it is sinful to abolish the least of the commandments, all the more so the great and most important ones. Hence the Holy Spirit affirms through Solomon: 'Whoever despises the little things shall gradually die' (Sirach 19:1b). Consequently nothing in the divine commandments must be abolished, nothing altered. Everything must be preserved and taught faithfully and devotedly that the glory of the heavenly kingdom may not be lost. Indeed, those things considered least important and small by the unfaithful or by worldly people are not small before God but necessary. For the Lord taught the commandments and did them. Even small things point to the great future of the kingdom of heaven. For this reason, not only words but also deeds are important; and you should not only teach, but what you teach, you should do." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 20.2.1-3)

[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 comments that it's easy to reduce the gospel to a message about right living and adherence to a moral code that we have to try hard to follow. It’s easy to reduce it to a set of self-help principles that we can adopt. It’s easy to reduce it to any number of things. But once you start hearing about God’s plan “for our glory,” you know that Jesus has done something for us that we could never do ourselves. His death defeated our death. And his resurrection has opened heaven—for all of us.

Today is the perfect day to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this glorious plan to you a little more. Read today’s second reading slowly and prayerfully. Let the words sink into your heart and fill you with hope. You were created for glory!

“Jesus, thank you for revealing your awesome hidden wisdom to me!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments the reading from Sirach, a Jewish scribe in 3rd century BCE, asserts Jewish wisdom is as good as Greek wisdom. The passage exhorts us to choose the path of life or the path of death, similar to the blessing and curses of a covenant. Paul asserts to the Corinthians that the Wisdom of God is not understood by the teachers of the age. The Greek philosophers in Athens had rejected Paul’s message  because of the imperfection of the physical world and body and Paul proclaimed the wisdom of the Cross as true love. The Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew, is a very Jewish Gospel, different from the Gospel of Luke which is addressed to pagans. Matthew shows how Jesus fulfills and extends the Law of Moses in contrast to the Pharisee’s scrupulosity. Jesus extends the law philosophically. Jesus speaks of Gahanna, an image for hell. There are many ways to kill the spirit of hope, reputation, and not protecting the vulnerable by the decision to do nothing. Friar Jude advises caution with sexual thoughts and our response. More important not to dwell on them. We deal with adultery, divorce and remarriage frequently in our time. Friar Jude challenges us about how we bring people to the community of Christ and cautions about oaths where we may make God an accomplice in our lies concluding with “May God bless us all”.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Carmen Acevedo Butcher who takes inspiration from the desert Christians of the fourth century. 

The desert elders have meant so much to me, and the really great thing is that even before I quite understood them, I loved their stories. My favorite story is about Abba Moses of Egypt. Somebody sent a message to him and said, “We need you to come to the elders’ gathering because there’s someone who has committed a sin, and we need you to help us make a judgment about his behavior.” He just said, “I don’t want to go.” Then, a priest sent word to him and said, “Moses, we need you here. They’re asking for you. You’ve got to come.” So reluctantly, Moses got up. He went over to the old basket he had that was full of holes, and he filled it with sand. Then, he put it on his back and walked to this meeting where someone was accused of a sin and was awaiting the judgment of the group. People came out to him and said, “Moses, what are you up to? What are you doing?” He said, “Well, here I am going to judge someone for a sin they say he has committed, and yet here my sins are running out behind me, and I don’t even see them.” [2]

The accusers just fell away. They went back to the gathering and told the man, “We don’t have anything to say to you.” It disbanded because of Moses’s humility. It’s very much like the woman accused of adultery by the men in John’s Gospel, where Jesus comes up and says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). (Rohr, 2026)

We invoke the Spirit in our efforts to understand, implement, and live by the principles and concepts expressed in Jesus Word for fullness of life.

References

Cardoso, E. (2026, February 15). Daily Reflection February 15, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-15-2026 

Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?17 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 2:6-10. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/15/1499744/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/2?6 

Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?1 

Rohr, R. (2026, February 13). A Return to the Garden — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-return-to-the-garden/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Great Are Those Who Teach and Obey the Commandments. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Sirach, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/15?15