Twenty-Second of Year B
August 2009
‘So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
How often do I find myself speaking and acting like the Pharisees?
How often do I find myself judging and condemning people in my own mind or even openly?
If challenged I am embarrassed by the truth, and react angrily in self- defence.
How often do we do it as a Church?
Again, when challenged we are embarrassed by the truth, and react by getting on our high horse and claiming that we are only defending truth.
As human beings, of whatever persuasion, we love our little rules and regulations whether it be in the home, at work or in our organisations. Of course rules and regulations are not only useful but also necessary. The problem arises when the human rules overshadow the Divine rules: such as justice, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, service.
Jesus of Nazareth had no time for the ‘always play it by the book ’ attitude.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!”
We are all aware of how difficult government rules and regulations make it, for ordinary people, to get what is their right.
Our own Church is quite accomplished in this department also, as some of you may well know.
But principally I must look to myself. I must look to the many times when I have neglected to tend to the needs of others and pleaded a busy schedule, a prior appointment, other duties, lack of time, regulations do not allow, etc. as my excuse.
The main reason could well be I just don’t want to be bothered.