Favor of Men

Today’s Gospel Text: "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If any one swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. Matt 23:13-22

Reflection: If you thought that people don’t allow the other to prosper or progress or achieve the essential things of life purely out of jealousy then it is not true.

One could even be doing so out of ignorance and this ignorance has no excuse because it is steeped in sin and to remain in the state of sin is not essentially steeped in ignorance. (cfr. Rom. 1:19-23)

In other words there is a reason behind this ignorance or this ignorance is a byproduct of a deeper malaise which is broadly classified as sin or a deliberate attempt at suppressing the truth of God, who alone can bring us out of dark situation.  

What is that sin that leads one to even remain ignorant and jeopardizes the salvation of many around them?

It is the sin of allowing oneself to be steeped in all that is unclean, even the pleasures and daily routine of life, and leaving the search of the highest truth out of ones purview. 

Some are in the truth and yet far from it, it is like in a ocean of water and yet not able to find the pure water to quench their thirst. 

The Pharisees by virtue of their special call to devote themselves to the word had the means and the knowledge to respond to God’s constant call.

They had the ocean of knowledge about God and his ways and yet failed to render him the glory and praise because in all this they sought their own glory and the pleasure of wanting the approval of men.      

How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44

Not that all Pharisees came under this category but many of them did on account of their pride and elitism and thus became an obstacle for others to enter the kingdom and hence Jesus had to say:

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. (vs. 13)

Hence if there is a sin that we need to avoid which is that of the Pharisees. 

Prayer: Lord, teach me to humbly seek you and your ways and to please you in all situations and not to seek the approval of men.  (cfr. Gal. 1:10)

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Please God

Today’s Gospel Text: And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him. Mark 12:13-17

Reflection: The wickedness of men is not in asking a question or clarification but the plans that they make to entrap their enemy.

Many a times, who is their enemy? Not the ones who have harmed them or done anything evil to them but the ones who love them and are concerned about their welfare, not only for this life but for all eternity.

Thus we have in the history the death of the many martyrs for Christ Jesus, whose only aim in life was to reach out to the people with the Gospel of love and life: a gospel that would transform them and lead them to the eternal doors of life.

Why then did the once in authority have to send some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to entrap Jesus?

Their question seemed so simple and straight and yet much loaded but hidden behind was the motive of entrapment.

Their flattery, or as interpersonal skill experts would recommend, contained an abundant dose of positive stroke so that the lethal weapon of entrapment may be swallowed without any suspicion.

What is evident from their flattery is that they had a clear idea of the truth of Jesus; an apt description of Jesus:

“We know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God.” (vs. 14) 

From this description we come to know the prime criteria to be a great servant of God; Not pleasers of men or their positions, not being false and uttering falsity all the time and truly teaching the way of God.

St. Paul, one of the greatest followers of Jesus has the same to say about himself and thus we know the reason for his greatness:    

“Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.” Gal 1:10

And likewise are his prayers for the neo-Christians: “to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col 1:10

Prayer:  May my life and meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. (cfr.Ps 104:34)

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Rejoice in God

Today’s Gospel Text: In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Luke 10:21-24

Reflection: It is so nice to see people rejoicing. The greater joy is in the contagious nature of rejoicing, when you see someone rejoicing it fills you up too with that special joy, except when you have looked at that someone as your enemy or harbor some grudge against those peoples.

We could rejoice at so many things of life, over gains and over things that build and even over those things which could ultimately destroy us and defraud us of our human character and dignity. 

Therefore it is not enough to rejoice over those things in life in which we are sincere about. Our limited knowledge and sincere heart could betray us.

There is one kind of knowledge which assures us, if we are sincere enough, and that is the knowledge of Christ Jesus; our sure hope and the ultimate reason for any rejoicing.  We can rest assured in this rejoicing that we shall gain from it for all eternity.

To aid us in our understanding and to help us in our rejoicing we have the sure help of the Holy Spirit to break through all the darkness of depression and heaviness; the evil that surrounds us.

We see in this passage Jesus too rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and rejoicing also with an assured knowledge and with a sure faith that this knowledge will be revealed to all those who carry the heart of a child when they approach God.

“Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes” (vs. 21)

Ah! The greatest thing about which we can surely rejoice is the knowledge of God, not the one that comes  merely through learning theology or catechism but knowledge that comes as constant revelation to his chosen ones who open their hearts like little babes to receive it.

Prayer:  Humbly I come before thy holy throne O Lord, so that my soul may rejoice in your greatness and magnify your holy Name; for you fill me with knowledge too profound to understand. 

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