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Rom 2:1-11
Lk 11:42-46
Have you ever been in the background when someone is experiencing a scolding, perhaps as a child? You may remember hearing a sibling/friend getting scolded. Did you find yourself shrinking into a corner or a hiding place, or perhaps, sneaking away before you were caught up in the fray? Or maybe you remember being so bold, presuming your innocence, and so intervened in the process of scolding, offering some “key” information, otherwise known as “tattling.” Mom or Dad then gave you that look, or said, “Just wait, you're next.” And you wish you had just been quiet.
In Luke 11:42-46, Jesus is speaking with strong words, almost as if he is scolding, in order to challenge the leadership of the Pharisees. “Woe to you...,” he says. And instead of sneaking away, the scholars of the law, otherwise known as scribes, speak up and call attention to themselves, perhaps believing in their innocence. And Jesus assures them that they are not innocent of his accusations.
In our childhood we might have sneaked away in our guilt when someone else was being scolded, but today, as adults, we generally presume our innocence of all things wicked, or wrongly emphasized. But what if Jesus is trying to get our attention? Would we have any sense that we are deserving to receive his challenge? In our own presumption of innocence, would we call out to Jesus to notify him that he is painting us with too broad a brush? Surely he could not mean me, or us! And then, to our surprise, Jesus responds by notifying us of our blindness, or narrowness of vision.
What if Jesus notified us that we are focused upon something other than the priority? (What follows are a few of my own “pet” questions.) What if, in all our concerns about celebrating the “sacrifice” of the Mass correctly – in the correct language, place, and form - he informed us that we are missing the purpose and content of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, namely, unity, salvation, and forgiveness? What if, in all our concerns with the gender of the ordained priest, Jesus informed us that we are missing an opportunity to utilize and celebrate womens' God-given gifts for ministry and leadership? What if, in our focus to uphold Church laws and rules in the face of all challenge and criticism, Jesus reminded us that we are lacking in attention and emphasis upon serving the marginalized, the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned, the dying, the grieving, the oppressed, and those who suffer from discrimination, etc.?
What if we are focused upon something other than God's vision and we are falling short in fulfilling God's commandment to love and to serve? What if we are, in fact, under-emphasizing Jesus' repeated claims that the last will be first, that peacemakers will be blessed, that the meek will inherit the earth?
My friends, we will all do well to turn to the God of whom Paul speaks in his letter to the Romans as he challenges his audience: “Do you hold [God's] priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance?” Paul is speaking to those who “suppress the truth.” God forbid that any of us should suppress the truth, but even if we did, the kindness of God can lead us to repentance. If you read from Romans 1:18 right through 2:11, you see that Paul is challenging, even scolding in his own way, those who should know better, and reminding them that there is another way.
As Christians, as followers of Christ, in all that we do and say we must evaluate ourselves, not judging others, not suppressing the truth. We must not deny our guilt/fault. Indeed, we must help one another to remain faithful to God's commandment to love. At the same time we will do well to become more intimately aware of God's “priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience” which ultimately saves us. This truth is the great gift of the Eucharist. May we receive and bear the gift of this truth in the Eucharist, today and always. |
