The fornicators among us are surely going to be disturbed by Jesus’ words. So also the greedy-guts. The same might be said for liars, adulterers, thieves, killers, sensualists, the envious, the arrogant, and the obtuse.
Perhaps the best tack is to scrap the whole Gospel and talk about love or expansion funds. It is not uncommon, after all, for us to expunge those parts of the Gospel that offend us. But usually we have to listen to the stuff and squirm.
It is a funny thing to sit in the pew on Sundays when a whole list of sins and sinners is enumerated from the Gospels or the various Epistles. Our shoulders shrink a bit in hope that we are not mentioned, or at least that the blows fall not too hard. Possibly we feel relieved that smoking and drinking are not mentioned. Some of us may sigh. It is those “others” that Jesus is talking about.
Or maybe we dwell—savoring it—on those “others.” That guy
who has loads of money. I hope he heard the word “greed.”
Or the woman who has seen three marriages. She’d better be
listening. Or those fakes who think they are so good; they’ll
get their fill of this Gospel. And I hope those people who eat and
drink too much know what the word “sensuality” means. They
could learn a thing or two if they would just open up their ears. As
for those who envy my own virtue and success, thank God they are
condemned as well.
The old Pharisees were experts in the law. Matters of right and wrong.
Weighty concerns of judgment. They knew where people stood. But Jesus
seemed to have more difficulty with the Pharisees than with any other
group. They did not mind hearing about sin, as long as it didn’t
apply to them. They were righteous, but self-righteously so. They
honored their self-images and projections, their own traditions. Jesus
quoted Isaiah to penetrate their defenses: “You teach as dogmas
mere human precepts.”
For myself, this stings a bit. I cherish what has been handed down as
tried and true. But if I cherish tradition, must I not be vigilant
that my heart is in the right place? Does Christ speak to me when he
says: “You disregard God’s commandment and cling to what
is human tradition”? Does he address his church? Its scribes?
Its leaders? “This people pays me lip-service but their heart is
far from me. Empty is the reverence they give me because they teach as
dogmas mere human precepts.” (Mt 15:8)
A secret consolation is this: if our hearts are stung by Jesus’
challenge to the Pharisees, our hearts are almost healed.
A gifted and forceful woman once told me of a horrifying revelation.
She realized at prayer that she was the Pharisee, she who judged
others, she who did not trust God.
What a lovely moment. If you think you are a Pharisee, you most surely
are not. If you think you are not, watch out.