All this week at daily Mass we’ve been hearing the encounters of Jesus with the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel of Matthew. We see similar interactions here in the Gospel of Mark as well. These instances bring up several questions for us.
First of all, who were the Pharisees? Well, the Pharisees were a sect of Judaism which focused on a very strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. They were very well versed in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and knew the over 600 Laws of Judaism like the backs of their hands. However, Jesus points out to them time and time again, that sadly that was the extent of their faith in the Living God. They looked at their relationship with the Almighty as a contract of sorts: Here are the rules, follow the rules, nothing else matters. It was very black and white for them. But Jesus notes that despite their displays of outward piety, they are filled with a whole list of sinful things:
“…evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, [and] folly.”
Jesus stresses the fact that these sins originate in our hearts, wounded by original sin and for lack of a better term, “broken.” So our first focus must be to honestly answer these questions:
Do I love God with my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole mind?
Do I truly live out my Baptismal call and my share in the priestly office of Jesus by entering into the world and consecrating my time, my work, my actions, to the Lord?
Do I let the reality of what we celebrate and do here at Mass truly resound within me and fill me with the Grace of God to live as a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
These can be tough questions to ask ourselves. We can easily get caught up and distracted in our daily lives, living in our modern, fast-paced world. But a great way to begin to answer these questions is to look at one thing: our calendar or datebook. What things do we find important enough that we write them down so as to ensure we don’t forget them? Is there ever and appointment for God in our plan for the day? Is our relationship with Him important enough to us that we schedule time for Him everyday? Or is it simply work related tasks and meetings, shopping lists, and social engagements? On what things do we focus our energy?
St. Paul calls us to be “…doers of the word and not hearers only.” Be “…doers of the word…” This is a call to be actively aware and engaged in our faith and in our place in God’s plan of Salvation. Our time spent in conversation with God is only wasted if we fulfill it as though it simply done out of some kind of duty. We must pray out of love for God, out of love for ourselves, out of love for our neighbor. If our prayer is not spurring us on to further conversion of heart and action on our part, we’re frankly and simply doing it wrong. Granted every time we pray we won’t float around the room and see blinding light radiating from the ceiling. However, we will be encountering God and sanctifying and consecrating that time to Him.
St. Theresa of Avila, who was a rather formidable woman who wasn't afraid to even tell the Pope himself what to do, sums it up best I feel:
“The most potent and acceptable prayer is the prayer that leaves the best effects. I don't mean it must immediately fill the soul with desire…The best effects (are) those that are followed up by actions; when the soul not only desires the honor of God, but really strives for it.”
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