Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent
[Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 and Matthew 23:1-12]Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim; redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: though you sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.
These words of Isaiah can help us to put some perspective on Jesus' rather strong words about the scribes and Pharisees! He affirms their authority but tells people not to follow their example! It is clear that he was addressing abuse of power. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen..... The issue is clearly not authority but power! As Lord Acton (writing about the Pope and hierarchy, by the way) said: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." It might be an interesting Lenten exercise to ask ourselves about what authority we might have, and what power we might have? Some folks who have no "authority" actually have a great deal of power! Ask any two year old who has learned the word, "NO!" The best endeavors and the worst can be stopped by a simple, "NO!" by an unwilling person! How to we exercise that kind of power? If we do have "authority" as a parent, work superior, religious superior, leader, bishop, priest, deacon, teacher, etc.......how do we exercise the "power" to make that authority effective? Is it by saying, "Because I said so!" ? Isaiah says that authority comes from using power to act justly and that God is prepared to forgive our mistakes in using power if only we are willing to act humbly in the use of that power. I have always taken comfort in that crimson to white process! I pray that I will never abuse the authority or power that I have, but I know well how human I am and so in need of forgiveness. I hope we can all have that experience of doing justice and receiving forgiveness. AMEN
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