December 15th, 2023
Scripture
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
--Matthew 23:27-39 (NIV)
Reflection
We are all probably full of anticipation this time of year. We’re anticipating joyful visits with out-of-town friends and family. We anticipate indulging in the decadent food and drink of the season, and we can’t wait to sing Advent and Christmas hymns at the coming weeks’ church services. But I’m guessing that none of us were anticipating being yelled at today by Jesus! Why is Jesus talking to us so sternly about our hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and our overall inability to recognize what’s really important?
The simple answer is that Jesus has to make sure we are listening and paying attention to what it means to be followers of God. It’s the same situation where you see your child about to dart into a busy street, or when you realize the driver of the car you’re in doesn’t see the stop sign ahead. “Stop! Stop!” you yell sharply and loudly. Your message is too important to be quiet and polite about.
So it is with Jesus, who has to make it clear to anyone within earshot that, although the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees may be in leadership positions within the community, their example is not the one to be followed by anyone who seeks a serious relationship with God. The scribes and Pharisees weren’t as concerned about the greater calling of God’s love - justice, mercy, and faithfulness for all - as they were about making sure they remained in power and influence over society. Worse, they were also leading others to model their bad behavior.
When I think of it that way…maybe I want to be yelled at by Jesus. I’m comforted to know that he cares so much about me that he is willing to be born, to live, to instruct, to die, to be resurrected, and even to yell for my sake. I would hope that anyone who loves me would point out the error of my ways, especially if they see me focusing on trivial, earthly things and ignoring the most important, heavenly things that are right before my eyes.
It is through this honesty that I can improve my relationship with God and be blessed as one who comes in the name of the Lord.
The Rev. Lisa Chronister, Deacon
St. John’s Episcopal Church, OKC