Chilling and Challenging

Understanding Jesus' tough teachings for priests

08/26/2024

Mt 23:13-22 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. 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 one 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.”

I love to read and study the Bible. But there are some chapters that I wish had been left out because they are so chilling and challenging. Thomas Jefferson, our third president, actually created his own more palatable version of the Bible by taking a razor blade and cutting out the teachings and miracles of Jesus he believed were not authentic.

What was left when Jefferson finished his editing process is now called “The Jefferson Bible.” I am not so smart as Jefferson to know what Jesus should have or could have said or done but “The Fr. John Bible” version of Scripture would definitely leave out today’s gospel from Matthew 23. Why?

Jesus levels seven bone-chilling woes against the Jewish leaders, the scribes and Pharisees. But notice how today’s gospel begins: “Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples.” In other words, even though Jesus is talking about the Jewish leaders, he directs his words to the future Christian leaders.

In a sense, it may be too late for the Jewish leadership to change – they are stuck in their sinful ways – but they can still serve as an object lesson for what the Church’s hierarchy should avoid. Even though the woes are leveled at the scribes and Pharisees, they are intended every bit as much for deacons, priests, and bishops.

These seven woes can be summarized by the statement, “practice what you preach.” That was the critical failure of the scribes and Pharisees and that was the one weakness Jesus did not want to see in his priests. But sadly, we modern clergy don’t fare much better than our Jewish predecessors.

I will never forget a brief exchange with an older priest shortly after I was ordained. I was a newly minted priest and attending the ordination of a classmate from the diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. I was talking excitedly to a young priest in line next to me about our hopes and dreams of being priests.

An older priest in front of us evidently overheard our conversation, and turned around and remarked: “One day you will go into church, open the tabernacle door, put your head inside and weep for your sins and beg Jesus to forgive you.” Wow, talk about a sacramental buzz-kill.

But that wise priest perfectly summarized Matthew 23 for me. And to be honest there have been days when I become so keenly aware of my sins and short-comings as a priest I do feel like putting my head inside the tabernacle, crying, and begging Jesus to forgive me.

Who is truly worthy to wear this Roman collar? Who feels he has any right to stand behind the altar and pronounce the words of consecration over mere bread and wine and call upon the name of the Lord? Jesus’ seven woes and that priest’s stern warning make it clear that no man stands behind the altar because he feels worthy, but only because has been called.

My friends, it can be tempting at times to put us priests on a pedestal and sing our praises. We do this at the Taste of Faith when we applaud and support our seminarians – so sometimes there is good reason to do that. In fact, last Friday a college student sent me an essay she had written on leadership and used me as her model of a great leader.

I was humbled and turned red when I read it, not that you could tell. And maybe this homily would be my response to her effusive compliments of my leadership abilities. Her essay reminded of the Bette Midler song “From a Distance.” “From a distance you look like my friend, even though we are at war.”

So, back to Matthew 23, and Jesus’ seven woes to us priests. Please pray for us priests, not that we be perfect, but that at least that we be humble and not think we are perfect. Jesus did not mince words when he expressed exactly what he expects from us. And don’t be startled if one day you walk into church and see me with my head in the tabernacle.

Praised be Jesus Christ!