Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 426
Lectionary: 426
We ask you,
brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Let no one deceive you in any way.
To this end he has also called you through our Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm
and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,
either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them
in every good deed and word.
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Let no one deceive you in any way.
To this end he has also called you through our Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm
and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,
either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them
in every good deed and word.
Responsorial Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Gospel MT 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.”
“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.”
Meditation: Do not neglect justice, mercy and faith
Do you allow any blind-spots to blur your vision of God's
kingdom and his ways? Jesus went to the heart of the matter when he called the
religious leaders of his day blind Pharisees and hypocrites!
A hypocrite is an actor or imposter who says one thing but does the opposite or
who puts on an outward appearance of doing good while inwardly clinging to
wrong attitudes, selfish desires and ambitions, or bad intentions. Many scribes
and Pharisees had made it a regular practice to publicly put on a good show of
outward zeal and piety with the intention of winning greater honors,
privileges, and favors among the people. Jesus had a very good reason for
severely rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, the religious teachers and
leaders, for misleading people and neglecting the heart and essence of God's
law - love of God and love of neighbor
What forms our outward practices and habits?
The scribes in particular devoted their whole lives to the study of God's law contained in the five books of Moses (Torah). As the religious experts of their day, they took great pride in their knowledge and outward observance of the commandments and precepts of the law of Moses. They further divided the 613 precepts of the Law of Moses into thousands of tiny rules and regulations. They were so exacting in their interpretations and in trying to live them out, that they had little time for much else. By the time they finished compiling their interpretations it took no less than fifty volumes to contain them! Jesus chastised them for neglecting the more important matters of religion, such as justice and the love of God. In their misguided zeal they had lost sight of God and of his purpose for the law.
The scribes in particular devoted their whole lives to the study of God's law contained in the five books of Moses (Torah). As the religious experts of their day, they took great pride in their knowledge and outward observance of the commandments and precepts of the law of Moses. They further divided the 613 precepts of the Law of Moses into thousands of tiny rules and regulations. They were so exacting in their interpretations and in trying to live them out, that they had little time for much else. By the time they finished compiling their interpretations it took no less than fifty volumes to contain them! Jesus chastised them for neglecting the more important matters of religion, such as justice and the love of God. In their misguided zeal they had lost sight of God and of his purpose for the law.
God's law of love reveals what is truly important and
necessary
Jesus used the example of tithing to show how far they had missed the mark. God had commanded a tithe of the first fruits of one's labor as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for his providential care for his people (Deuteronomy 14:22; Leviticus 27:30). The scribes, however, went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things (such as tiny plants) with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. Jesus admonished them because their hearts were not right. They were filled with pride and contempt for others who were not like themselves. They put unnecessary burdens on others while neglecting to show charity, especially to the weak and the poor.
Jesus used the example of tithing to show how far they had missed the mark. God had commanded a tithe of the first fruits of one's labor as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for his providential care for his people (Deuteronomy 14:22; Leviticus 27:30). The scribes, however, went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things (such as tiny plants) with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. Jesus admonished them because their hearts were not right. They were filled with pride and contempt for others who were not like themselves. They put unnecessary burdens on others while neglecting to show charity, especially to the weak and the poor.
The scribes and Pharisees meticulously went through the outward
observance of their religious duties and practices while forgetting the
realities of God's intention and purpose for the law - his love and
righteousness (justice and goodness). Jesus used a humorous example to show how
out of proportion matters had gotten with them. Gnats were considered the
smallest of insects and camels were considered the largest of animals in
Palestine. Both were considered ritually impure. The scribes went to great
lengths to avoid contact with gnats, even to the point of straining the wine
cup with a fine cloth lest they accidently swallowed a gnat. The stark contrast
must have drawn chuckles as well as groans.
God's love shapes our minds and transforms our hearts and
actions
What was the point of Jesus' humorous and important lesson? The essence of God's commandments is rooted in love – love of God and love of neighbor, righteousness (justice and goodness), and mercy. God is love and everything he does, including his justice and goodness, flows from his love for us. True love is costly and sacrificial - it both embraces and lifts the burdens of others. Do you allow the love of God to shape and transform the way you live your daily life - including the way you think of others, speak of them, and treat them?
What was the point of Jesus' humorous and important lesson? The essence of God's commandments is rooted in love – love of God and love of neighbor, righteousness (justice and goodness), and mercy. God is love and everything he does, including his justice and goodness, flows from his love for us. True love is costly and sacrificial - it both embraces and lifts the burdens of others. Do you allow the love of God to shape and transform the way you live your daily life - including the way you think of others, speak of them, and treat them?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your love and mercy that I may
always think, speak, and treat others with fairness, loving-kindness, patience,
and goodness."
 First Things First |
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August 26, 2014. Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary
Time
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Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, 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! "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee!
First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to you again in prayer.
Even though I cannot see you, I know through faith that you are present in my
life. I hope in your promise to be with me. I love you, and I know you love
me. Accept this prayer as a token of my love.
Petition: Lord, help me to dedicate my life to
weightier matters rather than mere appearances.
1. Tithed Up in Knots: When God originally commanded his
people to tithe, it was so that they would acknowledge him as the source of
all the gifts in their lives. It was to be the recognition on their part that
all they had was from him, that he is Lord, and that his law is the way to
salvation. Yet it became easy for the Israelites to fall into legalism and
forget the true purpose of the tithe. They observed the letter of the law and
forgot the meaning of the law: acknowledge the sovereignty of God. In the
end, all we are and all we have belongs to God. We have to use our talents,
wealth and possessions all for him and his kingdom. Is there some area in
which I do not acknowledge his sovereignty in my life?
2. What Really Counts: What are the weightier matters of the
law? Jesus speaks of justice and mercy and faith. When we neglect these, we
are distorting true religion, for true religion is not a question of
formalisms and actions to appease God, but rather of turning our hearts to
his word. We need to make our hearts more like his, in charity and mercy
toward others. How many times do we miss the most important things and work
only at side issues? How often do we try to please God in the wrong way, by
supposing we are doing his will when really we are only doing our own will
instead? How often do we forget the true essence of devotion to the law of
God?
3. Interior Cleaning: “First clean the inside of the cup…”
We should tend to our soul and make sure the intentions behind our actions
are holy motivations. We need to check our heart frequently so that we can
work with purity of intention. Sometimes we work only to present an
appearance to others, to appear virtuous and holy, but inside we are filled
with negative judgments, such as lack of charity. Virtue comes from within
the heart of a person, where the Spirit dwells and inspires as he wills. We
need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and follow his lead.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know
what is in my heart. Purify it and recast it in the image of your divine
heart, so that I may love you and love others as you love them. Let me put
aside all vanity and desire for appearances that does not give glory to you.
Resolution: I will examine my conscience as to the
motives of my actions each day, making sure I am inspired by mercy, justice
and faith.
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UESDAY, AUGUST 26, MATTHEW 23::23-26
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17; Psalm 96)
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17; Psalm 96)
KEY VERSE: "Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!" (v 24)
READING: Jesus lamented the false standards of the scribes and Pharisees who scrupulously adhered to the letter of the law while refusing to obey its spirit. The Mosaic Law commanded that a tithe be paid on the important crops of corn, oil and wine in gratitude for God's blessings (Dt 14:22-23). The religious leaders applied the law to the smallest garden herb. They took great pains with matters that had little importance (a "gnat") while neglecting justice, mercy and fidelity, the law's weightier purpose (a "camel"). Jesus condemned their preoccupation with external purification rituals while ignoring inner holiness. Because they were blind and corrupt, they could not lead others to faith.
REFLECTING: Am I more concerned more with my outer appearance than with inner holiness?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
The Lord comes to judge the earth
Today’s gospel addresses the Pharisees but its message challenges
our own hypocritical actions and calls us to examine the gap between what we
espouse and what we do.As we move through our days, our weeks, our months, our years, we are reminded not to be absorbed with the requirements of the law but rather to focus on the purpose of God’s laws. These laws exist to make us more available for loving relationships with God and others. Jesus speaks clearly here of the fundamentals of justice, compassion and faith. He draws us into radical relationships where we are challenged to treat our enemies with compassion and to seek to reconcile with them. We might bring to our awareness the times that we fail to act in loving ways towards others and ask our God to be more closely with us.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Our Highest Priority
Heavenly Father, how can I make Jesus the highest priority in my
life so that I can take his message seriously and be one of his friends and
disciples? I can start by opening my heart to your grace so I will be ready to
respond to Jesus's call. I ask this in Jesus's name. Amen.
August
26
St. Joseph Calasanz
(1556-1648)
St. Joseph Calasanz
(1556-1648)
From
Aragon, where he was born in 1556, to Rome, where he died 92 years later,
fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the work of Joseph Calasanz. A priest
with university training in canon law and theology, respected for his wisdom
and administrative expertise, he put aside his career because he was deeply
concerned with the need for education of poor children.
When he
was unable to get other institutes to undertake this apostolate at Rome, he and
several companions personally provided a free school for deprived children. So
overwhelming was the response that there was a constant need for larger
facilities to house their effort. Soon Pope Clement VIII gave support to the
school, and this aid continued under Pope Paul V. Other schools were opened;
other men were attracted to the work and in 1621 the community (for so the
teachers lived) was recognized as a religious community, the Clerks Regular of
Religious Schools (Piarists or Scolopi). Not long after, Joseph was appointed
superior for life.
A
combination of various prejudices and political ambition and maneuvering caused
the institute much turmoil. Some did not favor educating the poor, for
education would leave the poor dissatisfied with their lowly tasks for society!
Others were shocked that some of the Piarists were sent for instruction to
Galileo (a friend of Joseph) as superior, thus dividing the members into
opposite camps. Repeatedly investigated by papal commissions, Joseph was
demoted; when the struggle within the institute persisted, the Piarists were
suppressed. Only after Joseph’s death were they formally recognized as a
religious community.
Comment:
No one knew better than Joseph the need for the work he was doing; no one knew better than he how baseless were the charges brought against him. Yet if he were to work within the Church, he realized that he must submit to its authority, that he must accept a setback if he was unable to convince authorized investigators. While the prejudice, the scheming, and the ignorance of men often keep the truth from emerging for a long period of time, Joseph was convinced, even under suppression, that his institute would again be recognized and authorized. With this trust he joined exceptional patience and a genuine spirit of forgiveness.
No one knew better than Joseph the need for the work he was doing; no one knew better than he how baseless were the charges brought against him. Yet if he were to work within the Church, he realized that he must submit to its authority, that he must accept a setback if he was unable to convince authorized investigators. While the prejudice, the scheming, and the ignorance of men often keep the truth from emerging for a long period of time, Joseph was convinced, even under suppression, that his institute would again be recognized and authorized. With this trust he joined exceptional patience and a genuine spirit of forgiveness.
Quote:
Even in the days after his own demotion, Joseph protected his persecutors against his enraged partisans; and when the community was suppressed, he stated with Job, to whom he was often compared: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; /blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b).
Even in the days after his own demotion, Joseph protected his persecutors against his enraged partisans; and when the community was suppressed, he stated with Job, to whom he was often compared: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; /blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 23,23-26
Lectio:
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 23,23-26
Jesus said: 'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you
hypocrites! You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected
the weightier matters of the Law-justice, mercy, good faith! These you should
have practised, those not neglected. You blind guides, straining out gnats and
swallowing camels!
'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that it and the outside are both clean.
'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that it and the outside are both clean.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents two other times that this expression
was used: ‘Alas for you...’ when Jesus speaks against the religious leaders of
his time. The two ‘Alas for you...’ of today denounce the lack of coherence
between word and attitude, between exterior and interior. Today we continue our
reflection which we begun yesterday.
• Matthew 23, 23-24: The fifth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who insist on the observance and forget mercy. You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and fidelity”. This fifth ‘Alas for you...’ of Jesus is against the religious leaders of that time and can be repeated against many religious of the following century even up to our time. Many times, in the name of Jesus, we insist on details and we forget mercy. For example, Jansenism reduces lived faith to something arid, insisting on the observance and penance which led people away from the way of love. The Carmelite Sister Teresa of Lisieux grew in the Jansenism environment which marked France at the end of the XIX century. Beginning from a personal painful experience, she knew how to recover the gratuity of love of God, a force which should animate the observance of the norms from within; because without love, the observance makes an idol of God.
• Matthew 23, 25-26: The sixth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who clean things on the outside and are dirty inside. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Jesus criticises those who observe the letter of the Law and transgress the spirit of the Law. He says: "You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill, and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say to you anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls his brother ‘Fool’ will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him ‘Traitor’ will answer for it in hell fire. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery, but I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5, 21-22. 27-28). It is not sufficient to observe the letter of the Law. It is not sufficient not to kill, not to rob, not to commit adultery, not to swear in order to be faithful to what God asks of us. The one who observes fully the Law of God is the one who, besides observing the letter, goes deeply to the root and pulls out from within “the desires of extortion and intemperance” which may lead to murder, theft, and adultery. The fullness of the law is realized in the practice of love.
• Matthew 23, 23-24: The fifth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who insist on the observance and forget mercy. You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and fidelity”. This fifth ‘Alas for you...’ of Jesus is against the religious leaders of that time and can be repeated against many religious of the following century even up to our time. Many times, in the name of Jesus, we insist on details and we forget mercy. For example, Jansenism reduces lived faith to something arid, insisting on the observance and penance which led people away from the way of love. The Carmelite Sister Teresa of Lisieux grew in the Jansenism environment which marked France at the end of the XIX century. Beginning from a personal painful experience, she knew how to recover the gratuity of love of God, a force which should animate the observance of the norms from within; because without love, the observance makes an idol of God.
• Matthew 23, 25-26: The sixth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who clean things on the outside and are dirty inside. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Jesus criticises those who observe the letter of the Law and transgress the spirit of the Law. He says: "You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill, and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say to you anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls his brother ‘Fool’ will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him ‘Traitor’ will answer for it in hell fire. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery, but I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5, 21-22. 27-28). It is not sufficient to observe the letter of the Law. It is not sufficient not to kill, not to rob, not to commit adultery, not to swear in order to be faithful to what God asks of us. The one who observes fully the Law of God is the one who, besides observing the letter, goes deeply to the root and pulls out from within “the desires of extortion and intemperance” which may lead to murder, theft, and adultery. The fullness of the law is realized in the practice of love.
4) Personal questions
• There are two expressions of ‘Alas for you...’ two reasons to
receive the criticism from Jesus. Which of these two applies to me?
• Observance and gratuity: Which of these applies to me?
• Observance and gratuity: Which of these applies to me?
5) Concluding Prayer
Proclaim God’s salvation day after day,
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
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