Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time
October 13, 2010
Today's Saint: Edward the Confessor
Pray for politicians:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/EdwardConfessor.htm
Today's Readings:
Gal 5:18-25
Ps 1:1-4, 6 (with Jn 8:12)
Luke 11:42-46
http://www.usccb.org/nab/101310.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_10_13.mp3
How to give warnings and preach woes
When we see someone sinning, how should we handle it? Saint Paul, in today's first reading, gives "warning" to his listeners in the church at Galatia. Jesus, in today's Gospel reading, warns the Pharisees of their sins with exclamations of "Woe!" Do we dare to be as bold? When we do, won't we chase people away?
The key to doing this right is at the end of the first reading: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit." This means that we only give our warnings under the direction of and in the Spirit of Christ: with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
But did the Galatians realize that Paul loved them and was being patient with them? Probably, since they were all community members who already knew he was as caring as he was loud. And Paul did not speak with an attitude of superiority; he admitted publicly his own struggles with sin. Did the Pharisees realize that Jesus loved them and was being patient with them? Ho-ho. Definitely not!
It didn't matter what the Galatians thought of Paul. The only thing that mattered was what God thought of Paul. Nor did it matter what the Pharisees thought of Jesus. Even though Jesus never sinned, and even though Jesus was in fact superior to the Pharisees, he did not scold them with an attitude of superiority. He spoke the facts clearly, simply, directly, with no motive other than to invite them to true holiness.
Nor does it matter what others think of us when we speak the truth. The only thing that matters is what God thinks of us. Does he see anything in us that is not guided by theHoly Spirit? Does he see us rejecting or neglecting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Yes, he does, because none of us are totally sinless.
Okay, then we should keep our mouths shut, right? It would seem so, except there IS a way to invite others into greater holiness without being a hypocrite: Like Paul, be honest and let the person you're speaking to know that you, too, struggle with disobedience. From the humility of admitting your own sinfulness grows your compassion for the sinners you want to help. From that compassion flows God's love and patience and all the other fruits of the Spirit.
As sinners who have limited understanding of the reasons why the people around us are disobedient, you and I realize that we cannot make a true judgment against them. From this non-condemning position, we can invite them to trade up to a better life. Our invitation is based on what we've learned from our own shortcomings. It doesn't matter if they still reject us despite our humility. What matters is that God appreciates us for trying to convey the truth.
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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