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     The Pharisees arose in the aftermath of the Maccabean revolution against Greek-influenced rule in 166-163 BC.  As in all revolutionary movements, there are those who are more idealistic than others who may be more pragmatic and open to compromise.  The Pharisees believed that righteousness before God came only with strict adherence to the Mosaic Law ("Torah").  By the time Jesus was born, however, this strict adherence had evolved into an almost fanatic system which was subject to two problems.  The first problem is what scripture scholars refer to as "building a fence around the law."  Legal precepts require interpretation and application to various circumstances and times.  In order to protect the precept, customs develop that occasionally overshadow the original precept!  These customs begin to be confused with the law itself.  Jesus' line, quoted above, is directed at that problem.  The second problem is that the human heart can find ways to manipulate the most rigid system to private advantage.  In Matthew 23, one may read a very stern attack by Jesus against the scribes and Pharisees for this tendency.

     The scribes and Pharisees have something to teach us.  Many of them were quite sincere and holy people.  But their zeal could be misguided.  In cases where personal gain was involved, this zeal could be hypocritical and destructive.  I encounter these tendencies in many good and not so "good" Catholics.  The example that many Catholics will recognize concerns fasting and abstinence.  The important precept to do penance is often lost in the interpretation of HOW to do penance!  We could get much too concerned about the WHAT instead of the WHY?  The idea of substituting a practice when the mandated one was not possible did not occur to many good people because they had been taught to do things only one way, no matter what!  Our church has all too often forgotten the divine commandment in its  development of human traditions designed to protect the commandment - much like a parent that overprotects a child.  This tendency is particularly noticeable in liturgical and ritual matters.  In our desire to protect that which is sacred, we can put the sacred completely out of reach!  The desire to counter a tendency to wear overly casual clothing to Sunday services is not well served by demanding Victorian fashions!  

     Our faith and values are sacred.  We do the best we can to express these in appropriate ways that have the impact of both preserving the tradition (continuity) while meeting the challenges of living these in a world that is alive and changing every day.  The Holy Spirit is the wisdom of Christ in our midst.  Listening and discernment can help us to avoid the problems that Jesus notes in regard to the scribes and Pharisees.  This is true from top to bottom in our church!!  AMEN