Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Isaiah 1:10,16-20 | Psalm 49(50):8-9,16-17,21,23 | Matthew 23:1-12
The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. (Matthew 23:2-3)
Mother Church is currently embroiled in a worldwide “pedophile priest” scandal. Who would’ve though those two words would ever come in conjunction, pedophile and priest?
I’ve encountered many folks online who “talk a good talk” about loving tolerance…then put others down with harsh words and an air of “superior intellect”.
The admins of the Catholics in Singapore Facebook group have seen fit several times to remind all participants to BNBR (Be Nice, Be Respectful). Surely us good Catholics have no need for such reminders?
We apparently do.
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“Practise what you preach” is a common and just riposte against people whom we feel are hypocrites. It does not mean, however, that what they preach is wrong, especially when the words are from our Creator Himself:
Wash, make yourselves clean.
Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do good,
search for justice,
help the oppressed,
be just to the orphan,
plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17)
All of us are tasked to share this command with others, even if we sometimes have trouble fulfilling it ourselves. Yes, it’s hard to swallow others’ condemnation for our failures, but that doesn’t mean the Word is defective, only that we are weak.
So when a priest we’ve known and respected for years turns out to have feet of clay, it’s upon us to be understanding and forgiving, and not ignore the Good News that he was preaching despite being in a state of mortal sin.
The Word is perfect; the Word is eternal; the Word is God Himself.
Let us not lose sight of this essential pathway to life, despite the weaknesses of the people charged with building it.
Amen.