Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Rudolf Horts SVD – Christ the King Seminary
Wednesday 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Do I belong to the “Grumpy Catholics”?
Do we find ourselves rooting for Jesus in this Gospel passage, “Give it to them hard, Lord? They deserve it!” We imagine ourselves in the scene—arms sternly crossed, heads shaking in disapproval of those oh-so hypocritical Pharisees.
And soon our thoughts turn to someone we know who “should also receive a good verbal lashing!” Even a priest or a bishop might be the subject of our mental reprimand. Yet we do not realize that as we gloat, we find ourselves in the shoes of the very Pharisees we so condemn; our hearts are embittered and dry.
Although we condemn with the Lord those hypocrites, we do not love with the Lord. We forget that Christ would lay down his life for these Pharisees he is calling to conversion. Pointing the finger is easy, but conversion can come only from a heart that loves.
When we find anything wrong in our parish or Christian community, one reaction is to see what is wrong, pray, and help resolve these difficulties; another is to dwell on them – like what the “Grumpy Catholics Guild” do!
This Gospel passage is the one and only lens through which they view everything. They may have already invented the “Vengeful Mysteries”: Jesus curses the fig tree; Jesus clears the temple; Jesus condemns the scribes and the Pharisees.
Yes, Christ used hard words, but they were borne out of an intense love and longing for the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees, not an intense bitterness toward them.
So, let us become aware today: If I have any bitterness towards somebody in my heart, I need to ask Christ for the grace to forgive and to forgive as Christ forgives.
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