Jesus tells of a Pharisee who has the habit of going up “to the Temple area to pray.” He feels at home there but will not extend that feeling to another who has joined him. For, while there, the Pharisee’s prayer habit is to insult and ostracize those he judges as not belonging there with … Continue reading “Habits of the Home”
Tag: Pharisees
Care-full and Play-full
The Pharisees do not so much care about people as they care about people obeying their laws. Jesus demonstrates care and cares that the Pharisees do not care. Jesus speaks about their lack of care to their face, “of the hardness of your hearts.” Jesus then notices a hardness of hearts in his disciples, “People … Continue reading “Care-full and Play-full”
Is Love A Folly?
Jesus has encounters with people “who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” In today’s Gospel he tells of a Pharisee who is praying near a humble tax collector, despised by others, who “stood off at a distance … and prayed” for “mercy.” The Pharisee’s prayer is, “O God, I thank you … Continue reading “Is Love A Folly?”
The Capacity for God
“An attentive ear is the joy of the wise,” so writes Sirach. Wisely listening to the wisdom of another requires we “conduct our affairs with humility.” Jesus wisely gives an attentive ear to others and therefore conducts his affairs with humility. In the Gospel, “Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the … Continue reading “The Capacity for God”
Doing Our Jobs
Jesus’ opponents were not all necessarily heinous people. It is quite likely that some scribes and Pharisees who constantly debated Him loved their wives and children. The chief priests who determined his need to die were possibly faithful in providing for the well-being of widows and orphans. Pontius Pilate who ordered His crucifixion probably had … Continue reading “Doing Our Jobs”
Sin and Forgiveness
The Pharisee in Sunday’s Gospel shows no signs of love nor forgiveness but instead signs of being judgmental and unforgiving. The Pharisee judges a woman who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears as a sinner, not to be forgiven. The Pharisee does not judge himself a sinner. He judges himself saved and thus not needing … Continue reading “Sin and Forgiveness”
Love
Love is Jesus’ commandment, “I give you a new commandment: love one another.” Jesus rarely spoke in terms of commandments and yet his teaching on love in the Gospel is presented in that manner. Jesus’ commandment would seem to warrant attention, especially from Christians. Certainly so from self-titled Christians enamored of Ten Commandments from the … Continue reading “Love”