Scripture/Bible: And
in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in
long robes, and to have salutations in the market places 39 and the best seats in the
synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who
devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive
the greater condemnation." 41 And he sat down opposite
the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many
rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and
put in two copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And
he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you,
this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the
treasury. 44 For they all contributed
out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, her whole living." Mark
12:38-44
Reflection: “Beware
of dogs”, it means; be careful and don’t risk you life, it is a warning, an
explicit one, so that your life is not in jeopardy.
But
if we correlate the Dog and the scribe then there seems to be a vast difference, yet
what is for sure a meaningful application to an animal which doesn’t care who
the person before it bites and how it bites, cannot be so easily applied for the Scribes.
Unlike
a dog what harm can a Scribe do, even in the things that Jesus mentions about
them is more a description to be careful about, except that they devour widow’s
houses. In that case the widows have to be careful. It would have been apt to
say: “Beware of the Scribes you widows.”
Yet
Christ’s words cannot be taken lightly. We human beings are frail and we can so
easily get bitten by the bug of new fashion or modern trends irrespective if we are widows or not. It is perhaps OK for the ones
who have made an explicit choice to be carried away by the hedonistic world and
are into the latest and branded because for them to have and possess is to have
life.
But
the worst is when the vicious poisonous fangs comes to you in the garb of
innocuous spirituality. As in the case of the so called spiritual scribes, who
on account of their learning and writing skills were masters of the faith, like
the theologians, clergy and those in high offices today, then one better be
careful.
Our generations too offers many such innocuous spirituality's like the New Age types which many gullible Catholics, including Bishops, theologians, priests and nuns have got into and lead others also into it and many in authority are silent about it.
Do
they wear the garment of righteousness which Christ gives and seek his glory and
do they project it, if not then beware not as to shun Christ but to wear what
the righteous Lord provides for those who turn to him.
Prayer: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me
with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a
bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isa 61:10
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