Today’s account in the Gospel is a ringing denouncement by Jesus regarding the abuse of the leadership and religious authority of his day. Those who were to shepherd, guide, care for, protect, and lead to God, were not doing so. And so Jesus gives voice to the prophets before him: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites:”
Woe may not be a word we use much these days. Jesus is waving the red flag of warning with these woes. He is holding them accountable with poetic language that emphasizes the absurdity of their apparent observance of the law and shows the level of their hypocrisy. Jesus reveals that although they are being faithful to their tithing “of mint, dill, and cumin”, a tithe is the giving of ten-percent right off the top of the harvest, these contributions are minuscule. They don’t even touch the heart of crops received in the harvest. They are just spices and seed. They are so scrupulous in these tithes while not addressing what matters most regarding their roles as scribes and Pharisees which is to meet out “judgment and mercy, and fidelity.”
The next analogy Jesus gives flight to offers an even greater absurdity exposing their faults. He compares the meticulous detail of straining out the gnats from their drinks, while not expressing any concern for consuming the camel whole. Again, following the dietary laws outlined in Leviticus 11, straining the gnats kept their drinks ritually pure, but in the accusation of eating the whole camel, one of the most ritually unclean of animals exposes the level of degradation some of the leadership was engaged in.
The final one Jesus offered today: “You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence” (Mt 23:25). Again, ritual purity is being observed truly with the act of purifying the vessels, but with no attention to their inner thoughts and deeds, does the washing of the cups and dishes really matter?
Today, there continues to be challenges within sadly not only the political arena but also Church leadership. Though many improvements have been put in place, the abuse scandals, many happening before 2002, still have, and rightly so, shaken many of us. Abuse and cover-ups have left a gaping wound in the Body of Christ because of the devastation, first and foremost, to those who have been gravely wounded physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as for those families who have accompanied their loved ones through these years of trauma.
Jesus bestowed dignity on the vulnerable youth of his day when he chided his disciples for not allowing the children to be brought to him for a blessing (cf. Mt 19:13-15). Jesus modeled the proper treatment of children and at-risk adults time and again throughout his ministry, and as disciples of Christ, first and foremost, we too are to stand up for and protect the dignity of each person, but especially the most vulnerable among us. There is no defense for these horrific actions, nor the egregious coverups.
Since that time of the reporting, many dedicated people, both laity and clergy, have been diligently working together, to protect at-risk adults and children, to implement strategies and programs of awareness, to educate parents, children, and all who work with children and at-risk adults in our dioceses across the country.
We are the Body of Christ, and where one suffers, we all suffer. Jesus Christ promoted integrity over identity. The dignity of the person is to be placed before any institution. We need to pray for, while at the same time provide full access to those who have been abused. This means that they are to be heard, that their claims will be fully investigated, and they will have access to resources for healing, mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. Part of that process is to allow them to share their stories that need to be told and heard. We also need to continue to be vigilant in protecting settings that provide access to children and at-risk adults from predators.
At the same time, we need not leave the Church because of those who sin. We place our faith in Jesus and seek his guidance and help. It is important we remain to bring about healing, reform, and justice. We need to be aware and clear to put boundaries and proven protective practices in place, be alert and vigilant to the warning signs regarding those who do not respect boundaries, as well as be fully open and cooperative with revealing the abuses enacted past, present, and future.
Along with protective practices being put in place and monitored, avenues opened for healing, we also need to continue to pray and come to know our healer and savior personally. Today and each day following may we take the woes of Jesus seriously and allow his light to reveal where we fall short of the glory of God. May we have the humility to receive the light and love of Christ, be willing to see where we are in need of healing, of confession, and growth. With vulnerability, honesty, and humility, by allowing ourselves to be loved and transformed by Jesus, we can work together to build a culture of life, that respects, protects, empowers, and stands up for the dignity of all.
Photo: “Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees” – James Tissot, late 19th century
Spiritual Stepping Stones 