Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees

Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17, Ps. 96:10-13, Matthew 23:23-26

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you, tithe mint, dill, and cummin and have neglected the law's weightier matters: justice, mercy, and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)

Today’s Gospel passage calls for a deep examination of conscience. Once again, we must remember that Jesus never set out to condemn these religious leaders; his words were uttered out of love so that they would wake up from their slumber and make them apply the needed changes in areas where they were getting it wrong.

- Today, we hear Jesus accusing the Scribes and Pharisees of emphasising tithes so much while ignoring the law’s weightier matters, such as justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus says the tithe issue is like a fly compared to a camel. If I begin to preach that failure to pay tithe is equivalent to going to hell, God will judge me severely for turning the truth upside down.

- Jesus did not condemn tithing; He said it is less important than justice, mercy, and faith. This means that on the last day, God will never ask why you refused to pay your tithes. Instead, He will ask you why you failed to practice justice, mercy and faith. We will be judged for failing to feed the hungry, giving drinks to the thirsty, visiting the sick and the prisoners, etc. If you do not feel like tithing or you do not believe in it, you are not sinning.

- Some have asked me if using their tithes for charity or giving them to their parents is okay. Now you know the answer: justice, mercy and faith (which can only be expressed by good works) are more important than tithes. Even if you believe in tithes and practice them faithfully, remember that God is not a money doubler and that your blessings in life do not depend on your tithing. God blesses His children according to His will, not according to their offerings. This is why many non-Christians are wealthy and successful and do not tithe.

- In today’s First Reading, St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “Let no one deceive you in any way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). There were many false preachers in those days who did not understand the scriptures and were busy misleading the Christians regarding the end of the world (The Lord’s Day). Today, we still have many preachers who deceive Christians by making them part with their hard-earned money in the name of tithes and seeds. Brothers and Sisters, let no one deceive you. Man of God, do not become a burden to your parishioners in the name of tithes.

- We Scribes and Pharisees today are more concerned about the number of people who come to our churches than the quality of their spiritual lives. We wash the outside of the cup; we make the people feel good, yet inside, their hearts are full of corruption, wickedness, and evil. As churches increase exponentially in our cities, crime and evil also increase. True change can only begin from the inside. As the saying goes, if you want to change the world, begin with the man you see in the mirror.

- Today, we celebrate Saint Monica. She was a woman of excellence, a mother to the core, a woman who believed that with God, nothing is impossible, and a true mother who would never give up on her wayward son. This woman believed in the power of prayers and continued to pray even when it seemed as if her boy was getting worse every day. Today, we celebrate a mama-father, a mama-bishop, and a super mum who knew the art of raising a child. St. Monica is an icon of true motherhood, a great patron of mothers, and a shining example of the meaning of what it takes to be a mother.

- Like the widow who kept pestering the unjust judge, St. Monica prayed relentlessly for her son, St. Augustine. Like the Canaanite woman who was prepared to receive insults from Jesus for the sake of her possessed daughter, St. Monica went through thick and thin for her son Augustine.

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, give us the grace to practice what we preach so that our life may not preach a gospel different from our lips. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Monica. Bible Study: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14- 17, Ps. 96:10-13, Matthew 23:23-26).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu