Dear Parishioners,
Our Gospel today is the scene in the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus observes a widow putting a couple cents into the collection basket and says that her offering is more significant than the rich people who put in large sums. Right before that observation and comment, he scolds the Pharisees for being obsessed with honor and status.
Allow me to give a little recap of the scenes leading up to this scene. All of this is taking place during Holy Week. Christ has entered into Jerusalem for Palm Sunday and the Pharisees and Scribes immediately accost him with questions to trap him. First they ask Jesus about paying the temple tax, and Jesus responds “render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar; to God what belongs to God.” Then they ask Jesus about the afterlife and which spouse the woman married seven times will have in heaven. Jesus responds that we will not have particular spouses but will be like the angels, everyone in communion with everyone. Finally a scribe, who isn’t devious, asks Jesus what is the greatest commandment and Jesus says to love God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself. After this third bout, the Pharisees no longer asked any questions. They realized they’re defeated and won’t be able to trap our Lord.
Notice, then, what Christ does. He doesn’t just say, “Have a nice day” and then go off to the marketplace for some lunch. No. He goes on the offensive. You can almost imagine the scene: the Pharisees are starting to walk away from the temple and Jesus says, “Hold on! We’re not finished yet. Now it’s my turn…” Jesus proceeds by telling the entire crowd, “Beware of the scribes who seek honor and devour the houses of widows. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” And then he points out the poor widow and observes that she’s holier than all these Pharisees.
So much for nice, polite, politically correct Jesus.
It’s easy for us to picture Jesus attacking today the people we don’t agree with, all the people we think are Pharisees. But how about Jesus going after us? I think he would.
For those of us who ask Jesus questions or demand things from him, Jesus will give us responses, yes. But then be aware that he’s going to make an observation about our character. It might sting. For those of us who aren’t so bold to confront Jesus, but are more like those anonymous, passive people in the crowd, Jesus is going to make an observation about the person who “gets it”--the poor widow. That’s going to sting as well.
The point here isn’t to make us feel alienated and add to our guilt. Jesus loved the Pharisees whom he attacked as much as he loved the apostles. He died for them all. The point is that Jesus, like a good parent, is always challenging us to do something greater. May we have the humility to embrace that call.
+
The 12pm Mass today, Sunday, November 10th will be a teen-ministered Mass. Teens from our CRUX group will serve as lectors and EMs, and one of our teens will give a reflection after communion. All are welcome to the Mass per usual.
This Tuesday at 7 p.m. is a First Reconciliation parent meeting. On Friday at 7:30 p.m. our school will host its annual Trivia Night in the gym.
Throughout the month of November we continue to pray in a special way for all of the souls of the faithful departed. You are welcome to write down any names or intentions in the All Souls Books of Remembrance located at the Mary altar in the church and in the back vestibule of the church. And we continue to have prayer cards in the pews for you to write your intentions.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. James Wallace
Comentarios