Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading, Paul writes to the Thessalonians telling them to neither believe nor be concerned with what some people are claiming; the day of the Lord is upon them. Paul tells them, “Let no one deceive you in any way” and to “Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught”. I think his advice to the Thessalonians is applicable to us today even if the overall circumstances are different.
I feel like in our society every day is filled with people and things trying to distract us from having our attention on God; whether it be someone trying to sell the most popular item on the store shelf or today’s most popular song or movie or TV show or the most popular opinion on the newest this or that. People and things are continually competing for our attention. That way we will be distracted and avert our attention from God. With all of these distractions, it’s easy for our minds and bodies to wander around, aimlessly on auto-pilot. God, however, doesn’t want us to function on auto-pilot, blindly following the norm of every day and everyone else. He calls us to function in life with intention and purpose, to focus ourselves on Him. If we take Paul’s advice and hold fast to our traditions of reading scripture, attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist, and sharing our lives in a community centered on God, all of those distractions will be a little less distracting.
Distractions are not just a modern day problem. In today’s gospel Jesus is trying to refocus the attention and intentions of the distracted Scribes and Pharisees. First, He tells the scribes and Pharisees that by focusing their attention on the minor details of the law, they have missed the important intention behind the law. Jesus uses the example of tithing. We are called to tithe, but it’s not just about giving our money because the Bible tells us so or the Church tells so. God calls us to prayerfully give an offering from our heart, so that good can be done in His name and to hopefully make this earthly place at little more heavenly. Second, Jesus uses a metaphor to explain that they should be more concerned with the inner soul; instead of, the outward appearance. I have to admit I’m guilty of this. I enjoy doing my
Second, Jesus uses a metaphor to explain that they should be more concerned with the inner soul; instead of, the outward appearance. I have to admit I’m guilty of this. I enjoy doing my make-up, having my hair done and wearing nice clothes even on the days I feel physically or emotionally crummy. I do this partially for me and partially in attempts to mask the state of my crumminess on the inside. Although there is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice and feel ready for the day, after all God calls us to treat our bodies like a temple. There are times, however, when we focus so much on our outward appearance, we neglect the finer grooming of our inner being. Rather than spending time in the bathroom getting physically ready for the day, I should turn my attention to sitting down and spending some quiet time with God to prepare myself emotionally for the day and reflect on why I am in this state to begin with.
From both of these readings, I feel that God is saying we all need to be intentional with our hearts, minds and actions; intentional even in the repetition of the mundane. Today, how can you follow Paul’s advice and learn from Jesus’ lesson? What tradition can you intentionally focus on so that you’ll be a little less distracted by earthly things and a little bit more focused on how God is working in you?
- Marisa Tolle