“Woe to You Scribes and Pharisees…..”

Today’s gospel (Mt: 23-26) continues Jesus’ taking the scribes and Pharisees “over the coals” for their hypocrisy and excessive eye for detail, to the exclusion of more important matters and issues.

In the first (of two) instance Jesus zeroes in on an excessive emphasis on the smallest of plants when being faithful to the obligations of tithing produce correctly.

Make sure you include tithes on seeds and herbs. Justice and mercy? They do not come in for consideration.

The second has to do with Temple worship. Today’s liturgical correctness and emphasis on external details?

“You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, and leave the inside filled with loot and lust.”

I ask myself what is the underlying issue or dynamic that Jesus is trying to get at and ask people to change.

I ask myself if He is asking them what constitutes the true meaning and definition of, in the eyes of His Father, a “good Jew”. And therefore, obviously, what does it mean to be a “good Christian”. Where does the emphasis truly lie?

I ask myself why the focus so often was and continues to be on the external, on the letter of the law, on offering judgment on others’ behavior as seen/judged from the outside.

(And if I’m focused on your behavior, then clearly I’m not focused on mine! Which leaves ample room for hypocrisy, another of Jesus’ pet peeves that we see Him clearly addressing in this section of Matthew)

My “best guess” as to how to explain the above is our reluctance to admit that what Jesus is really asking of us is just plain very challenging. Hard.

The externals and the details are just easier to negotiate, no? Which Lenten penance do I prefer: refraining from meat once a week or becoming a seriously and habitually more forgiving person?

A common thread for many people in my experience and time here at Loyola has been the question:

What is God asking me to do?

I come increasingly to the conclusion that His answer, in very large part, is:

Be the most loving, forgiving, compassionate and just person you possibly can be. DAILY.

(Leave the rest up to God)