(Optional
Memorial for Saint Hedwig, Religious) or
Readings
(Optional
Memorial for Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin)
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| “The Pharisees Question Jesus” by James Tissot, 1902 |
Reading 1: Romans 2:1-11
You, O man, are without
excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.
For by the standard by which
you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the
very same things.
We know that the judgment of
God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who
judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the
judgment of God?
Or do you hold his priceless
kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that
the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?
By your stubbornness and
impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for
yourself
for the day of wrath and
revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone
according to his works,
eternal life to those who
seek glory, honor, and immortality
through perseverance in good
works,
but wrath and fury to those
who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.
Yes, affliction and distress
will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and
then Greek.
But there will be glory,
honor, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and
then Greek.
There is no partiality with
God.
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Commentary on Rom 2:1-11
St. Paul begins a
rather long discourse on the impartiality of God toward Jew and Gentile alike.
He begins by indicating that those who judge others have no moral superiority.
The standard applied to others will be applied by God to them in the final
judgment (see also Matthew 7:5ff). This judgment, St. Paul says, will be
measured out to Jews and Gentiles, as will salvation for those who demonstrate
their faithfulness through good works.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 9
R. (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to
his works.
Only in God is my soul at
rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my
salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be
disturbed at all.
R. Lord, you give back to
everyone according to his works.
Only in God be at rest, my
soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my
salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be
disturbed.
R. Lord, you give back to
everyone according to his works.
Trust in him at all times, O
my people!
Pour out your hearts before
him;
God is our refuge!
R. Lord, you give back to
everyone according to his works.
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Commentary on Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 9
This hymn of
praise strikes a tone of complete submission to the will of God and reflects
the peace that comes from the trust that attitude requires.
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Gospel: Luke 11:42-46
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of
rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to
judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done,
without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in
synagogues
and greetings in
marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves
over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of
the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you
are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you
scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens
hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not
lift one finger to touch them.”
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Commentary on Lk 11:42-46
In this passage the Lord continues
his criticism of those who believe that ritual practice is more important than
the spirit of God’s law. He points at their contributions to the temple, and
their neglect of the needy as symbolic of this lack of understanding. In
teaching this type of faith, focused only on religious practice, they lead
others astray, and in doing so they are doing the evil one’s work. (“You are
like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” Touching human
remains, according to Hebrew Law caused ritual impurity.)
Likewise, when questioned by the
scholar of the law (probably referring to a scribe), the Lord points at his
questioner and says that those who focus only on the minutiae of Hebraic Law
are missing its intent.
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Scripture today
contains a great reminder for us. We get
it with both barrels, so to speak. In
the first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, the apostle begins a
discourse on God’s impartiality. His
first argument in this apologetic is a theme the Lord himself provided both in
St. Luke’s Gospel (Luke 6:27ff) and in St. Matthew’s (Matthew 7:1ff). St. Paul
We couple St.
Paul’s reminder with the Lord’s criticism of the Pharisees and scribes, two groups
viewed by the Jews of his day as being the most faithful to God. The Lord
accused these two groups of completely missing the point of God’s message in
spite of their knowledge and practice of the Law. They were viewed by most Jews as being
examples to be followed. They knew each
jot and tittle of the Law of Moses and took it literally, practicing intricate
rituals from memorized obscure passages in the Torah; very impressive.
Their mistake,
the Lord tells them, is that while the letter of law is important, the spirit
of the law is more important. When they
expect others to do as they do with their sometimes meaningless practices and
accuse them of betraying God if they fail, they place burdens on the people they
themselves cannot lift. They judge the
people using a scale they will not be able to meet when their time comes.
Of all the
Christians in the world, we Catholics with our Eastern Rite brothers and
sisters have retained most of the ritual handed down by the early Church. Our celebrations are more complex and our
rules more exacting. We have said
before, following the discipline of the Catholic Church is a difficult thing to
do. Many of us do it extremely well, some
of us hold up our faithfulness as a source of pride. That is where the caution comes in. We think, for instance, “I not only attend Mass daily, I
also do the Liturgy of the Hours, the Angelus, the Divine Mercy, and the
Rosary.” And then we think, “Therefore I am a better Catholic than Joe who only
makes Mass once a week if he’s lucky.”
The Lord would look at us as he did the scribes and Pharisees and say; “you pay no attention to judgment and to love
for God.” St. Paul
The reminders
call us back to what is truly important in our faith, to love God and love one
another. When this is at the heart of
all we do in God’s name and for our own spiritual health, we have gotten the
point. When our practice is a reflection
of our life with others, we have come close to getting it right. This is a super tough reminder today and one
that we will take to heart.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “The Pharisees Question Jesus” by James Tissot, 1902
[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 republication is not authorized by USCCB and is
for private use only.
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