GOD’S WORD

21st Week in Ordinary Time Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a & 9b 1st Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10 Gospel: Mt 23:13-22

Reflection:

In this Gospel text we read Jesus’ full-scale public denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. His fundamental indictment against them is hypocrisy—a gap between appearance and reality, between what they say and what they do, due to a misplaced hierarchy of values and excessive emphasis on external matters to the neglect of the interior. According to D. Harrington, in the Prophetic tradition, the goal of denunciations is to highlight evil actions or patterns, and to warn people not to follow those who do them, as well as to bring back those who err to the way of righteousness. In these condemnations Jesus accused the scribes and Pharisees of hindering the spread of the Gospel (23:13), and raising up enemies against it (v. 15) and of engaging in foolish casuistry regarding oaths (v. 1622). Their leadership had become a stumbling block to people’s growth in holiness.

The prophetic warnings can serve as a checklist for all who exercise leadership in church. It can serve as a summons to an examination of conscience of the way leaders play their roles and accomplish their functions. It is not an exaggeration to say that excessive casuistry, misplaced priorities, overemphasis on externals etc. are found in every religion.