Woe to Who? by Stewart Perry
The gospel reading for last Wednesday’s Holy Communion service was that bit where Jesus says “Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites…” (Matthew 23:27-32) and this Sunday’s gospel has Jesus referring to scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites again (Mark 7:6). They are strong words of judgement and condemnation… but just because Jesus uses them does that mean we should as well?
One of the biggest problems with our church today, and I’m sure its something other generations have had to contend with equally, is that we see Jesus words and actions as a licence for us to go and do likewise as well… when the reality is that Jesus only said “go and do likewise” in relation to the parable of the Good Samaritan… makes you think doesn’t it?
What are the things that Jesus said and did that we should bring to life in our own lives? I’m pretty sure judgement is not something that he was wanting to be incarnate in the Church. I can think of a few examples where Jesus seems pretty direct about the dangers associated with judging others and that job is God’s… Jesus is God he can say what he needs to to those scribes and Pharisees… but we are not.
These verses are more of a mirror to the institutional religion of the time and so best applied to the institutional religion of our time – which is us. There is more than enough hypocrisy within the Church to keep us occupied until Christ returns so we should leave the stuff outside of the Church to God.
So what do we incarnate? When I reflect on these verses the first thing it does is humble me. It’s why when I wash my hands before Holy Communion I say as a prayer “Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites”. It’s a way of reminding me that what I am about to do has nothing to do with who I am, but everything to do with who Jesus is and the fact I am in this position should always make me feel humble and if I’m not feeling humble then I should really check my spirit.
This weekend is Father’s Day and I’m not sure the world needs the Church to be a “Father figure” in the “strict” sense of the word. I use the word “strict” deliberately as directive and authoritative and authoritarian. Ironically when I reflect on the parenting that has impacted me most profoundly and the parenting I have been able to exercise in my better moments, it’s been when my parents have fostered, nurtured and been an example of humility to me and when I have been able to foster, nurture and be an example of humility to my children.
I was listening to an “expert” in parenting interviewed the other day and she suggested that rather than getting angry and judgmental when our children make mistakes we should pause and be present and help them journey through the consequences of their actions. That kind of sounds a bit like humility.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if the world outside the church saw us as a group of people who would be prepared to be present with them while they worked out the mess of their lives rather than the group of people ready to judge them?
A few years ago I remember hearing some research from demographer Mark McCrindle who said that towards the top of the list of how those outside the church see us is judgmental… not too much further down the list was hypocritical… I don’t remember seeing the word humble on the list at all. Isn’t that sad? But doesn’t that stir something within you? It does within me… it stirs a need for repentance and transformation.
I pray I can be less judgmental because I know that when I am then I’ll be quickly found out to be a hypocrite… Lord help me to be humble.
Have a great week
Stewart