Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Scholars believe a major purpose for St. Paul’s writing of the second letter to the Thessalonians, apparently only a few months after the first was that another letter had surfaced, supposedly from St. Paul that told the community the Apocalypse was at hand. In this passage he acknowledges the existence of that forgery and tells the community to disregard the false teaching and to remain firm in their faith in Jesus as taught by him when he was with them and from his first letter.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Psalm 96 is a hymn of praise to the one true God. The psalmist invites all people to come to faith and believe in God who created all things and is above all things. He exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation. The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice. In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.
Gospel Matthew 23:23-26
This reading from Matthew continues the dialogue of the “Seven Woes”. In this selection we hear how the Pharisees have extended the law of tithing down to the smallest of crops, herbs. The implication is they are lost in the minutia of the Law and have forgotten lager faith issues. The same reference is made when he says “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
The final part of this section is concerned with “a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored (see also Mark 7:4)”[3]. There is a strong reference here to the lack of self-control shown by these leaders.
Reflection:
“But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Like so many little gems in scripture this one lesson falls into our laps today. It is a reminder that we must not become so focused on one element of our faith that we loose sight of the need for a holistic view.
In 1984, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin published a document on “A Consistent Ethic of Life”. He referred to this ethic as a “Seamless Garment” in reference to Jesus “seamless garment” for which the guards cast lots at his crucifixion. Putting it simplistically, the Cardinal stated that for us to authentically follow the teaching of the Church on the dignity of life, we must support that dignity at all stages of life and under all circumstances.
A short time later at a fairly conservative parish I delivered a homily on pro-life in which I summarized the Cardinal’s teaching. In that homily I said that if one is pro-life and opposed to abortion, one must also be pro-life and reject capitol punishment.
To my great surprise I was almost physically accosted by members of the Respect Life Committee following one of the Masses. They rhetorically asked me if I was trying to destroy their ministry by forcing people to link their objection to abortion with objection to capitol punishment. When I tried to explain, they would have none of it. They had their ideas about the greatest evil in the world and nothing anyone said was going to change their minds.
I use this anecdote to illustrate the point made today in the Gospel. These people were so focused on one narrow aspect of an issue they had overlooked the bigger issue and fundamental tenet of our faith – love one another. They were not willing to expand their respect for life to include those who had committed grave sins against society, and had resorted to straining gnats while swallowing camels.
The Lord calls us to view our faith lives holistically. We apply the fundamental principals to our lives in all circumstances, not just those that are convenient. While we all have special interests within the faith, we must never focus on them to the exclusion of all others. We should never focus on the minutia and ignore the huge issues confronting us.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “St. Peter in Prison” 1631
[3] See NAB footnote on Matthew 23:25-26
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Scholars believe a major purpose for St. Paul’s writing of the second letter to the Thessalonians, apparently only a few months after the first was that another letter had surfaced, supposedly from St. Paul that told the community the Apocalypse was at hand. In this passage he acknowledges the existence of that forgery and tells the community to disregard the false teaching and to remain firm in their faith in Jesus as taught by him when he was with them and from his first letter.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Psalm 96 is a hymn of praise to the one true God. The psalmist invites all people to come to faith and believe in God who created all things and is above all things. He exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation. The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice. In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.
Gospel Matthew 23:23-26
This reading from Matthew continues the dialogue of the “Seven Woes”. In this selection we hear how the Pharisees have extended the law of tithing down to the smallest of crops, herbs. The implication is they are lost in the minutia of the Law and have forgotten lager faith issues. The same reference is made when he says “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
The final part of this section is concerned with “a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored (see also Mark 7:4)”[3]. There is a strong reference here to the lack of self-control shown by these leaders.
Reflection:
“But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Like so many little gems in scripture this one lesson falls into our laps today. It is a reminder that we must not become so focused on one element of our faith that we loose sight of the need for a holistic view.
In 1984, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin published a document on “A Consistent Ethic of Life”. He referred to this ethic as a “Seamless Garment” in reference to Jesus “seamless garment” for which the guards cast lots at his crucifixion. Putting it simplistically, the Cardinal stated that for us to authentically follow the teaching of the Church on the dignity of life, we must support that dignity at all stages of life and under all circumstances.
A short time later at a fairly conservative parish I delivered a homily on pro-life in which I summarized the Cardinal’s teaching. In that homily I said that if one is pro-life and opposed to abortion, one must also be pro-life and reject capitol punishment.
To my great surprise I was almost physically accosted by members of the Respect Life Committee following one of the Masses. They rhetorically asked me if I was trying to destroy their ministry by forcing people to link their objection to abortion with objection to capitol punishment. When I tried to explain, they would have none of it. They had their ideas about the greatest evil in the world and nothing anyone said was going to change their minds.
I use this anecdote to illustrate the point made today in the Gospel. These people were so focused on one narrow aspect of an issue they had overlooked the bigger issue and fundamental tenet of our faith – love one another. They were not willing to expand their respect for life to include those who had committed grave sins against society, and had resorted to straining gnats while swallowing camels.
The Lord calls us to view our faith lives holistically. We apply the fundamental principals to our lives in all circumstances, not just those that are convenient. While we all have special interests within the faith, we must never focus on them to the exclusion of all others. We should never focus on the minutia and ignore the huge issues confronting us.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “St. Peter in Prison” 1631
[3] See NAB footnote on Matthew 23:25-26
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