December 14th, 2023
Scripture
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in you stop them. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it, 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who dwells in it, 22 and whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside also may become clean.
--Matthew 23:13-26
Reflection
In the film Anchorman, a comedic rivalry unfolds between the Channel 4 news team, led by Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy, and their Channel 9 adversaries, resulting in a West-Side Story-esque brawl. The absurdity escalates as additional rival news teams join the fracas, complete with a trident-wielding weatherman. Nursing his wounds and reflecting on the chaos, Burgundy remarks, "Boy, that escalated quickly.”
Similarly, the Gospel reading from Matthew might evoke that same sentiment. Without context, Jesus' intense critique of the Pharisees and scribes appears to have escalated quickly, as well. However, tracing back through the preceding days after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we witness Jesus navigating challenges from various groups seeking to discredit him. Today's reading serves as the climax of Jesus' response to their deceptive questioning, emphasizing their hypocrisy and lack of mercy.
The scribes and Pharisees, once revered as religious authorities, are unmasked for their outward piety concealing inner corruption. They meticulously adhere to the letter of the law while neglecting its spirit, burdening others with oppressive rules and failing to live up to their own standards.
Jesus' words of woe reverberate through time, challenging us to examine our own hearts and behaviors. How often do we, like the scribes and Pharisees, focus on outward appearances rather than internal transformation? Do we burden others with our expectations, forgetting the love and compassion central to Jesus' teachings?
Advent invites us to ponder whether our actions reflect genuine faith or a desire for recognition. This Advent, let us embrace authenticity, cleansing our hearts of hypocrisy. As we await Christ's return, may we become conduits of God's love, sharing his light with the world. By doing so, we fulfill the spirit of Advent, preparing for the transformative presence of Christ to redeem not just the world but also our own hearts.
The Rev. Dion Crider
Priest Associate
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, OKC