Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Interestingly, this is my second reflection on Jesus’ Woes. During the Twenty-first week in Ordinary Time, my assigned Gospel was Matthew’s portrayal (Matt. 23:27-32) of Jesus’ words that we find today in Luke. My prayer today is WOW, Lord, you’re presenting this message to me again; please help me to really “get it” this time – help all of us to really “get it.” Remember, Jesus’ Woes are mournful. The term woe, as it’s used in the original language, is a term of lament, not of judgment. Jesus mourns over the religious leaders’ hypocrisy; our Lord mourns over you and me in our hypocrisy. Today’s first reading and the Gospel do have a lot to say about judgment. But what is really being judged?
The Lord calls out our hypocrisy. The Greek word hypocrite means “play-acting.” In ancient Greek theater, the actors, the hypocrites, wore masks to distinguish themselves as the character they portrayed. Sometimes one actor played many different parts in one play, changing masks each time he/she appeared as a new character. Anyone who puts on a “mask” of virtue while harboring judgmental attitudes is a hypocrite.
Self-righteousness is an insidious sin. It tempts us to don a mask and play the character of judge. Such an actor portrays a false piety and religiosity that places self above others on a contrived scale of righteousness. If we’re honest with ourselves, we all play this role from time to time. If we’re not careful, it becomes a stronghold that traps us in a legalistic, judgmental posture toward self and others.
St Paul asks us in the first reading, “Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance?” If my modus operandum is self-righteousness, setting myself in a judicious place of perceived superiority, then I hold God’s goodness in low esteem. How arrogant! God help me! God’s extravagant, saving love leads me to repentance, not judgment. Repentance leads to daily conversion to Christlikeness and a life of love and mercy. Standing at the foot of the Cross, all I see is love, mercy, and grace. As I stand there, deeply aware of my own sinfulness and need for repentance, how can I view anyone else with judgment?! Tragically, the enemy deceives us into thinking that it’s religious piety that defines and saves us. We wear the judge mask and look critically at our neighbors. We exclude and marginalize others based on their lifestyle, behavior, choices, political views, race, anything we deem inferior, wrong, or sinful. What do we hope to accomplish in judging others? Judgment does not lead to repentance and conversion; love and mercy lead to repentance and conversion. That is what we must extend to others. No exceptions. I won’t lead people to Christ by judging them; I lead people to Christ by loving them.
I must remember that Christ looks upon me with love, mercy, grace, and unconditional acceptance. He looks upon every other person in exactly the same way. Christ never condones or excuses our sin, but despite our sin, He always accepts each one of us and constantly woos us by his love toward repentance. Since Christ accepts my neighbor, who am I to judge her? Who am I not to accept her? Who am I not to extend hospitality, acceptance, and inclusivity?
Our Lord says to us, “You pay tithes . . . but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.” A more literal translation states, “but you neglect justice and the love of God.” Fulfillment of the Law for Jesus is all about seeking justice for everyone and extending love and mercy, not just following the letter of the Law. Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent” (Matt. 12:7) (see also Matt. 9:13). Judging has no place in our lives; legalistic religiosity has no place in our lives. Following Christ means loving like He loves and excluding no one by our thoughts, our attitudes, our words, or our actions.
Today may we examine our hearts and ask the Lord to expose any judgmental spirit or root of self-righteousness. Let us ask God’s forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit to help us to be inclusive, loving, and merciful toward everyone, especially those whom we have marginalized and excluded. This is radical love; this is radical discipleship.