31 OTA.11; Mal 1:14-2:2-10; 1Thess 2:7-13; Matthew 23:1-12
Are we …“walking the talk?”
As fall is becoming winter the days are getting shorter, & we try to bring light into our lives. We know the contrast between one candle & complete darkness - a single candle can make a difference in how & what we see. Today’s readings present a sharp contrast between Paul’s attitude in the 2nd reading & that of the scribes/Pharisees in the Gospel. Some of the scribes/Pharisees are focused entirely on themselves:
Here is a list of Jesus' criticisms about religious leadership in his day: They did not practice what they taught (hypocrisy).
They put heavy burdens on others but not themselves (legalism).
They sought & loved public recognition (pride).
Status, respect & titles were important to them (arrogance).
They locked people out of the kingdom (judgmental).
They established laws to benefit themselves (greed).
They neglected to emphasize justice & mercy (bias).
They were accomplices to silencing the prophets (oppressive). (Source: esermons.com/Johnson, Critical Decisions in Following Jesus)
Their self-focus is sharply different from Paul’s attitude toward the Thessalonians. He made no demands. He was gentle with them & so reflected the light/warmth of God. We can imagine that the community responded not only to what Paul said but to how he lived, and so they recognized Paul’s words as … the very words of God.
Pharisees & moralists are good people who perform a necessary function. We ought to be grateful to them … while recognizing their limitations. Hardback catechisms do not translate well into loose leaf lives. Our sins do not define who we are. They are merely symptoms of what is wrong with us. We need to be cured, not cursed.
As Eucharistic people we, like Paul, are invited to proclaim by the light and warmth of our lives, the loving & merciful presence of God to all we meet.
2 will be made great.” …. Coach Gary Barnett surprised the entire sporting world by winning “the Big Ten” title in 1995 & taking a Cinderella Northwestern team to the Rose Bowl. Later he surprised it again by something he wrote in his autobiography, High Hopes: Taking the Purple to Pasadena. Describing a difficult adolescence, he wrote with astonishing honesty and humility: “My real distress came from being a bed wetter.” Barnett broke the habit as a sophomore before his first high school football
game. When asked by a reporter why he mentioned such a humiliating thing in his biography, he shrugged and said, “I am who I am, and I’m comfortable with who I am.” (Story source: Jesus 2000, Link, p.379)
He is not better or worse than anyone else no matter what the category of judgment used (economic, religious, political).
He has Christian integrity that is open & honest. When he speaks, people listen. What was a humiliating episode or period in your/my adolescent life?
Humility and self-denial are always admired, but rarely practiced.
(Source: E.C. McKenzie)
Admitting our humanity ... what does this allow us to do?
From the prophet Malachi, Has not one God created us?
From Jesus, For they preach but they do not practice.
When Oscar Romero was appointed archbishop of San Salvador, prominent, wealthy families who controlled most of the land and money in el Salvador offered to build him a palace where he could live in “Splendid and pious security and isolation”
But Romero chose to live simply, making his home in the sacristy adjacent to the hospital chapel, where he served. Because there was no gap between the Gospel he preached & the Gospel he lived, Romero’s life, like the life of Jesus continues to teach the integrity to which every disciple of Jesus is to aspire. (Story source: Celebration, 10/30/11)
Are we …“walking the talk?”
As fall is becoming winter the days are getting shorter, & we try to bring light into our lives. We know the contrast between one candle & complete darkness - a single candle can make a difference in how & what we see. Today’s readings present a sharp contrast between Paul’s attitude in the 2nd reading & that of the scribes/Pharisees in the Gospel. Some of the scribes/Pharisees are focused entirely on themselves:
… how they might be honored & recognized.
Here is a list of Jesus' criticisms about religious leadership in his day: They did not practice what they taught (hypocrisy).
They put heavy burdens on others but not themselves (legalism).
They sought & loved public recognition (pride).
Status, respect & titles were important to them (arrogance).
They locked people out of the kingdom (judgmental).
They established laws to benefit themselves (greed).
They neglected to emphasize justice & mercy (bias).
They were accomplices to silencing the prophets (oppressive). (Source: esermons.com/Johnson, Critical Decisions in Following Jesus)
Their self-focus is sharply different from Paul’s attitude toward the Thessalonians. He made no demands. He was gentle with them & so reflected the light/warmth of God. We can imagine that the community responded not only to what Paul said but to how he lived, and so they recognized Paul’s words as … the very words of God.
How are we doing? What are our attitudes?
What would someone call us? … a hypocritical Pharisee or a gentle Christian like Paul? We are not just related to God as creature to Creator or as lawgiver to law-keeper. We do not have a legal contract with God but a personal covenant. When we are God’s family, not God’s subjects.Pharisees & moralists are good people who perform a necessary function. We ought to be grateful to them … while recognizing their limitations. Hardback catechisms do not translate well into loose leaf lives. Our sins do not define who we are. They are merely symptoms of what is wrong with us. We need to be cured, not cursed.
As Eucharistic people we, like Paul, are invited to proclaim by the light and warmth of our lives, the loving & merciful presence of God to all we meet.
That takes integrity.
Jesus said, “the greatest one among you must be your servant. Whoever makes themselves great will be humbled, & whoever humbles themselves 2 will be made great.” …. Coach Gary Barnett surprised the entire sporting world by winning “the Big Ten” title in 1995 & taking a Cinderella Northwestern team to the Rose Bowl. Later he surprised it again by something he wrote in his autobiography, High Hopes: Taking the Purple to Pasadena. Describing a difficult adolescence, he wrote with astonishing honesty and humility: “My real distress came from being a bed wetter.” Barnett broke the habit as a sophomore before his first high school football
game. When asked by a reporter why he mentioned such a humiliating thing in his biography, he shrugged and said, “I am who I am, and I’m comfortable with who I am.” (Story source: Jesus 2000, Link, p.379)
To me this is a powerful story.
He is a real human being, a real person, a child of God.He is not better or worse than anyone else no matter what the category of judgment used (economic, religious, political).
He has Christian integrity that is open & honest. When he speaks, people listen. What was a humiliating episode or period in your/my adolescent life?
I had the same problem as Coach Barnett & I have dyslexia to boot.
Humility and self-denial are always admired, but rarely practiced.
(Source: E.C. McKenzie)
Admitting our humanity ... what does this allow us to do?
From the prophet Malachi, Has not one God created us?
From Jesus, For they preach but they do not practice.
What will integrity allows to do?
First, it will give us perspective. It will make us comfortable in our own skin. It will give us an openness to be Christ in this world without borders.
Here’s an example….
When Oscar Romero was appointed archbishop of San Salvador, prominent, wealthy families who controlled most of the land and money in el Salvador offered to build him a palace where he could live in “Splendid and pious security and isolation”
But Romero chose to live simply, making his home in the sacristy adjacent to the hospital chapel, where he served. Because there was no gap between the Gospel he preached & the Gospel he lived, Romero’s life, like the life of Jesus continues to teach the integrity to which every disciple of Jesus is to aspire. (Story source: Celebration, 10/30/11)
At this Liturgy, let’s be authentic, let’s preach the gospel at all times,
and when necessary use words!”