2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17
Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus continues to rebuke the scribes and Pharisees. Today, Jesus says “Woe” to them again because they focus on the minutiae of the Law while they “neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.” They needed conversion but they prefer to focus on the externals. The difference is, people can see what is outside, but only you and God can see what is inside. Which one would I like to please? The crowd? Myself? Or my God?
We do need to attend to the weightier things that are behind the rules and commandments that we have in our church: judgment (discernment ), mercy and fidelity and compassion and justice and peace, and overall, love. In addition, we also need to let go of trying to control others, or even ourselves in the process. Ultimately, we need to surrender and put our trust in God’s love and grace and will for us.
May we not browbeat each other over the small things, but help lift each other up, letting God into our hearts and minds, to heal us and heal the world in Jesus Christ.
God bless us all.
Fr. Joseph OSJ
