Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 20, 2016 - Saturday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezek 43:1-7ab and Matt 23:1-12]"The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice." [Matthew]
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016 ST. BERNARD abbot and doctor of the Church
[Ezekiel 43:1-7ab and Matthew 23:1-12]
"The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice." [Matthew]
Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew is a scorcher. Although the evangelist has probably collected in one chapter sayings that were uttered over a longer period of time in the interests of building dramatic tension, it is clear throughout the gospel that Jesus was in conflict with all the major powers in the Jewish community of his time: scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and elders - each of which had their fingers in the power pie for different reasons. Chapter 23 begins with a nod to the scribes and Pharisees insofar as they did represent a legitimate leadership function. The scribes were knowledgeable in the Law of Moses and were people who could read and write, which meant that they enabled a great deal of commercial and personal communication by keeping records and writing letters. The Pharisees were devout but militant observers of the law who in their zeal could lose perspective and make people victims of the law. Jesus did have some positive contacts with both scribes and Pharisees but as a whole, he was at odds with them and they plotted to kill him. In today's gospel we have a blistering criticism of their actions.
Anyone who uses legitimate power and status to manipulate others or for illegitimate gain should be held to account. This can happen in the most ordinary items of life as well as in bigger areas. It is all about power and how it is used or abused. Any pastor can recount disputes in a parish that had their roots in issues of power, whether it concerned where vases of flowers were to be placed or who had keys to what or who received funds for pet projects. However, this can also manifest itself in the terrible example of sexual abuse by clergy. Power gets into everything, and not just in church life. Attorneys, doctors, teachers, law enforcement persons and many others in positions of trust exercise great power. When, like the scribes and Pharisees, this power is abused, then the public can turn to Jesus' own words to condemn the perpetrators. Woe to them! AMEN
config
view
logs
4096.0 KB
86 ms
4
