+JMJ
A Contemplation From the Gospel of Matthew
As Lent approaches I find it is a good time to really look into myself and ask the Lord to reveal the things I am blind too. The things I overlook because it is easier not to see them. The things I justify doing because of pride or just because they make me feel good.
“Ignorance sure is bliss.” Am I right?
It just seems the more I know the harder it gets. So, this makes me willfully avoid seeing the truth in myself a lot of the time so I can keep on living in blissful ignorance.
So, sometimes the Lord needs to be pretty forceful with me in order to open my eyes.
The Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If ones swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who is seated on it.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgement and mercy and fidelity. [But] these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evil doing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out! You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you flee from the judgement of Gehenna?
Matthew 23:13-33
My Contemplation
I put myself into the scene as a Pharisee. Jesus is teaching in the synagogue and we are all listening to His words. I am unsure of Him at this point, but listen attentively.
Jesus is teaching and stops abruptly. It is almost like He has lost His train of thought, but He surveys the room purposefully. Looking at each person in turn as the awkward silence lengthens. An uneasiness settles on the room When His eyes meet mine, He begins forcefully, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. At first causing anger and resentment making me shout at Him with the others. How dare He say I have any faults I am following the law! Who gives Him the authority to speak to me, a Pharisee, like this?
But as Jesus continues I can feel the weight of His words. The weight of the truth of them.
“You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of plunder and self-indulgence.”
They pierce my heart as I see what others perceive I am but I am completely different on the inside.
”Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evil doing.”
The words burn my soul as I see I am not as good as I thought I was.
”You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you flee from the judgement of Gehenna?”
I feel pitiful and unworthy as the truth of His words punch me in the gut. But those around me are in a rage, shouting at Jesus to remove Himself from the pulpit.
”How could they not see?” I think, tears streaming down my face, as my sins play out before me. I meet the eyes of Jesus again, firm and resolved, through the shouting and cursing.
The words, “I know you,” settle silently on my heart.
He Knows Me
The Pharisees and the scribes believed they were good. But in reality they were not as good as they thought they were. Jesus could see the truth in their hearts. He knew them, and He knows me too.
Jesus sees my inner most being. He sees the good within me, which is only because of Him. But He also see the darkness in the deepest depths of myself. The parts that are hidden from the world. A place riddled with pride, sloth, gluttony, and selfishness. I place that can flare up so easily, and yet I can so easily ignore it even exists.
I ignore it because most of the time it is just easier. More comfortable. But Lent is a good time to get uncomfortable. It is a time to open my heart to the forcefulness of the Lord and stop being willfully blind. I have to let Him open my eyes so I can work on correcting it, with His help.
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
Prayer To Know Yourself By St. Augustine
What do you turn a blind eye to in yourself? What can you work on this Lent? How well do you take constructive criticism?
Need help choosing a penance for Lent? Check out my post here for help!