LET YOUR LIFE TELL

TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 August 21, Saturday

 

Ruth had adopted the ways of her deceased Jewish husband. Now, she is adopted into God’s people.

The Lord abhors duplicity and hypocrisy, particularly in religious leaders. The scribes had rendered a real service by becoming the teachers of Israel during the exile, when the priesthood was on the decline, but later, they had gradually turned religious living into a complicated intellectualistic, legalistic and casuistic system of observances, which they themselves did not fully practice. It had become the pride and boast of the pious Pharisees to observe them all and in this way to work their own salvation. On account of this pride, they lacked the true spirit and humility of openness to God’s plans.

 

First Reading: Ruth 2:1-3. 8-11; 4:13-17

It so happened that Naomi had a relative by marriage, a man prominent and rich, connected with Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.

One day Ruth, the Moabite foreigner, said to Naomi, “I’m going to work; I’m going out to glean among the sheaves, following after some harvester who will treat me kindly.”

Naomi said, “Go ahead, dear daughter.”

And so she set out. She went and started gleaning in a field, following in the wake of the harvesters. Eventually she ended up in the part of the field owned by Boaz, her father-in-law Elimelech’s relative. A little later Boaz came out from Bethlehem, greeting his harvesters, “God be with you!” They replied, “And God bless you!”

Then Boaz spoke to Ruth: “Listen, my daughter. From now on don’t go to any other field to glean—stay right here in this one. And stay close to my young women. Watch where they are harvesting and follow them. And don’t worry about a thing; I’ve given orders to my servants not to harass you. When you get thirsty, feel free to go and drink from the water buckets that the servants have filled.”

She dropped to her knees, then bowed her face to the ground. “How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly—me, a foreigner?”

Boaz answered her, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.”

Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God’s gracious gift she conceived and had a son.

The town women said to Naomi, “Blessed be God! He didn’t leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He’ll make you young again! He’ll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she’s worth more to you than seven sons!”

 Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

 The neighbourhood women started calling him “Naomi’s baby boy!” But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

 

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behaviour. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer.

“Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’

“Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuverer you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.

“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

 

Prayer

Lord God, you are pure grace.
You fill with your forgiveness and life
those who recognize their own emptiness
and the need for your mercy.
Grant us not to call attention
to ourselves and the good you allow us to do,
but to serve you and people
in the unsophisticated simplicity of our hearts
and to give all glory and honour to you,
for the life and grace you bring us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Always preach the Gospel, use words when necessary

Today’s Gospel is a direct gibe at all those who do a lot to “blah, blah, blah” with the Word of God but then forget to put into practice what they preach. Jesus harshly criticizes scribes and Pharisees – He was harsh on those who used God and religion for their own advantages and prestige. The disciples of Jesus are called to be people of few words but with more of action. The famous advice of Saint Francis of Assisi, when he sent two of his friars to evangelize the Muslims who were then occupying the Holy Land is worth recalling: “Always preach the Gospel, use words when necessary”. Evangelisation does not necessarily mean talking a lot, preaching a doctrine. The Pharisees and the scribes proclaimed themselves as official interpreters of the Thora – the Law of Moses; they interpreted what was good and bad. But Jesus criticises them for their acts of public performances of piety to impress the crowd. The Word of God is a reminder to us, especially to those in authority in the Church to avoid public display of fasting and penance and kneeling and praying many prayers in front of everyone while our behaviour and relationship with people do not correspond to this external show of spirituality. It is appropriate that all of us who have any authority in the Church, read this passage carefully and review our lives. Let us not fall among the category of those who roll unbearable burdens on others and then we do not move a finger to help.” Pope Francis, commenting on the gospel passage says, “A common mistake of those in civil or ecclesiastical authority is that of demanding people to do things — even righteous things — that they fail to practise in the first person. They live a double life. This sets a bad example of authority. Authority is a help, but if it is wrongly exercised, it becomes oppressive; it does not allow people to grow, and creates a climate of distrust and hostility, and also leads to corruption. “We disciples of Jesus must not seek titles of honour, of authority or supremacy. We must not consider ourselves superior to others; modesty is essential for an existence that seeks to conform to the teaching of Jesus, who is meek and humble of heart and came not to be served but to serve.”

Video available on Youtube: Always preach the Gospel, use words when necessary