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| “Saint Monica” by Luis Tristán De Escamilla,1616 |
Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers
and sisters,
that our reception among you
was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered
and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi ,
we drew courage through our
God
to speak to you the Gospel of
God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from
delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through
deception.
But as we were judged worthy
by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges
our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever
appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for
greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from
men,
either from you or from
others,
although we were able to
impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among
you,
as a nursing mother cares for
her children.
With such affection for you,
we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but
our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you
become to us.
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Commentary on 1
Thes 2:1-8
The Apostle
reminds the Thessalonians that, in his own experience, proclaiming the Word of
God has caused turmoil and even persecution as he refers to his visit to
Philippi (see Acts 16:19-40).
St. Paul
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me
and you know me;
you know when I sit and when
I stand;
you understand my thoughts
from afar.
My journeys and my rest you
scrutinize,
with all my ways you are
familiar.
R. You have searched me
and you know me, Lord
Even before a word is on my
tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the
whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem
me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me
and you know me, Lord.
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Commentary on Ps
139:1-3, 4-6
Psalm 139 is a
hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the awe that one so
great could love one so insignificant.
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Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and
dill and cummin,
and have neglected the
weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and
fidelity.
But these you should have
done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out
the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of
cup and dish,
but inside they are full of
plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first
the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may
be clean.”
Commentary on Mt 23:23-26
This reading from
Matthew continues the dialogue of the “Seven Woes”. In this selection we hear how the Pharisees
have extended the law of tithing down to the smallest of crops - herbs. The implication is they are lost in the
minutia of the Law and have forgotten lager faith issues. The same reference is made when he says “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and
swallow the camel!”
The final part of
this section is concerned with “a metaphor illustrating a concern for
appearances while inner purity is ignored”.[4]
(see also Mark
7:4) There is a strong reference here to the lack
of self-control shown by these leaders.
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Reflection:
“But these you should have done,
without neglecting the others.
Blind guides,
who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Like so many little gems in scripture this one lesson
falls into our laps today. It is a reminder that we must not become so focused
on one element of our faith that we lose sight of the need for a holistic or
10,000 foot view.
In 1984, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin published a document
on “A Consistent Ethic of Life”. He
referred to this ethic as a “Seamless Garment” in reference to Jesus “seamless
garment” for which the guards cast lots at his crucifixion. Putting it
simplistically, the Cardinal stated that for us to authentically follow the teaching
of the Church on the dignity of life, we must support the dignity of human life
at all stages of life and under all circumstances.
A short time later at a fairly conservative parish I
delivered a homily on the Church’s position on being pro-life in which I
summarized the Cardinal’s teaching. In that homily I said that if one is
pro-life and opposed to abortion, one must also be pro-life and reject capital
punishment.
To my great surprise I was almost physically accosted by
members of the Respect Life Committee following one of the Masses. They
rhetorically asked me if I was trying to destroy their ministry by forcing
people to link their objection to abortion with objection to capital
punishment. When I tried to explain, they would have none of it. They had their
ideas about the greatest evil in the world and nothing anyone said was going to
change their minds.
I use this anecdote to illustrate the point made today in
the Gospel. These people were so focused on one narrow aspect of an issue they
had overlooked the bigger issue and fundamental tenet of our faith – love one
another. They were not willing to expand their respect for life to include
those who had committed grave sins against society, and had resorted to
straining gnats while swallowing camels.
The Lord calls us to view our faith lives holistically.
We apply the fundamental principles to our lives in all circumstances, not just
those that are convenient. While we all have special interests within the
faith, we must never focus on them to the exclusion of all others. We should
never focus on the minutia and ignore the huge issues confronting us.
Pax
[2]
The picture is “Saint Monica” by Luis Tristán De Escamilla,1616
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
[4]
See NAB footnote on Matthew 23:26
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