8/26/2015 – Wednesday of the 21st week of ordinary time – Matthew 23:27-32

     In the Gospel today, Jesus continues to criticize the scribes and Pharisees.  We heard the first part of this reading from Matthew at the daily mass yesterday.  Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees of trying to portray themselves as perfect on the outside, hiding all of their faults on the inside, and miring themselves in hypocrisy. Contrast the superficiality of the scribes and Pharisees to the earnestness and single-mindedness of St Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians, how his efforts were all directed toward bringing salvation to others through our Lord Jesus Christ.  In this letter, Paul thank God that the Thessalonians received the holy word from him not as the Word of Man, but truly as the Word of God, which is now at work in them.  On the other hand, the Pharisees and scribes were so concerned about their outward appearances and the reputations, that bringing others to Christ was not their calling.  So often we can concentrate on the faults of others, criticizing others and ripping them down, when we ignore what is going on in our own lives. Yes, it is much easier to rip someone apart than it is to build them up and help them get back on track.  In our society there is so much passive aggressive behavior as well – we rip others down and then won’t even acknowledge at what we are doing.  I wonder what Jesus would say if he saw what people are posting on Facebook, on how we are always looking tear someone apart by a scandal, at how our gossip is so damaging.  Would Jesus give us the same message he gives the scribes and the Pharisees today?