Podcast Summary
Externalism vs Inner Transformation: The Gospel of Matthew highlights the importance of inner purity and sincerity over external rules and religious practices in attaining spiritual growth and entering the kingdom of heaven.
The Gospel of Matthew presents two contrasting approaches to spiritual life and growth: one that is criticized for its hypocrisy and externalism, and another that is praised. The scribes and Pharisees, despite their rigorous adherence to religious practices, were accused by Jesus of obstructing the kingdom of heaven. They prioritized external rules over inner spiritual transformation, making the path to salvation more difficult for others. Jesus, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of inner purity and sincerity. He warned against hypocrisy and emphasized the significance of honoring God in both thought and deed. The gold or the temple, the gift or the altar – all are sacred because of God, and swearing by them implies a commitment to Him. As we embark on this new year, it's crucial for us to learn from both these paths. We should strive to avoid the pitfalls of externalism and hypocrisy, focusing instead on inner transformation and sincere devotion to God. By doing so, we can truly enter the kingdom of heaven and help others do the same.
Jesus' criticism of scribes and Pharisees: Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, focusing more on man-made rules than God's law, creating a situation where the rules overshadowed the intent of the law
During Jesus' time, the religious leaders, specifically the scribes and Pharisees, were heavily criticized for their hypocrisy. The word "hypocrite" literally means "actor" in Greek, indicating they were pretending to be righteous on the outside but had different intentions within. To understand this criticism, it's essential to know the history leading up to it. After the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, a new class of lawyers, or scribes, emerged. They dedicated their lives to studying the law and memorizing every detail. However, they also created numerous man-made rules to prevent people from breaking God's law. These rules, known as commentaries, eventually amassed into 50 thick volumes. Over time, the focus shifted from the law itself to the rules, creating a situation where the rules became more important than the law itself. Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees for this hypocrisy and their excessive focus on rules, which led to their denunciations.
Pharisee laws: The Pharisees created excessive rules and regulations, known as 'fences,' which contradicted God's original intentions and overshadowed the importance of loving God and loving one's neighbor.
The Pharisees, in their quest to be maximally faithful to the laws and teachings of the scribes, ended up creating an excessive number of rules and regulations that often contradicted the original intentions of God's laws. These rules, known as "fences," were meant to prevent people from breaking God's laws, but they became more important than the laws themselves. For instance, the Pharisees had numerous regulations regarding the Sabbath and dietary practices, which went beyond what God had originally intended. This focus on the fences rather than the law led them to overlook the more important aspects of God's teachings, such as loving God and loving one's neighbor. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for this in the gospels, as they were preventing people from entering the kingdom of God with their man-made rules.
Religious Hypocrisy: Focusing on converting people to specific beliefs rather than leading them to God can create religious hypocrisy, distorting true spirituality and making it harder for others to follow a genuine spiritual path.
The scribes and Pharisees, as well as some modern-day Christians, can distort religion by focusing on converting people to their specific beliefs rather than leading them to God. They may use deceitful practices, such as lying or manipulating oaths, to achieve their goals. This behavior is not in line with God's teachings and can create hypocrisy, making it harder for others to follow a genuine spiritual path. The contrast is seen in the first reading, where St. Paul commends the early Christians in Thessalonica for their integrity and faithfulness, despite their suffering. Ultimately, true religion should be about connecting with God, not trying to play God or manipulate others.
Thessalonians' faith and endurance: The Thessalonians' unwavering faith and endurance in the face of persecution is a reminder that choosing the path of faith, mutual charity, and endurance leads to entering God's life and glorifying Him.
The Thessalonians, in the face of persecution, demonstrated their faith and endurance, proving themselves worthy of the kingdom and setting an example for others. St. Paul praised their mutual charity and prayed for their continued growth in faith. He encouraged the listeners to choose the path of faith, mutual charity, and endurance, linking their sufferings to unite them in their vocation to holiness. St. Paul emphasized that this path leads to entering into God's life and glorifying Him. The blessed we celebrate today, Blessed John Paul I, is a reminder of the possibility of this path. Let us remember and be inspired by their examples as we begin this new year.
Pope's personality shift: Pope John Paul I's lighthearted approach contrasted Pope Paul VI's serious demeanor, making the papacy more relatable and enjoyable for the people
Pope Paul VI, who ruled from 1963 to 1978, faced significant challenges during his papacy, including the Vietnam War and the sexual revolution. Despite his brilliance and dedication, he was known for being serious and rarely smiled. In contrast, when Cardinal Albino Luciani, also known as Pope John Paul I, was elected in 1978, he brought a lighthearted approach to the role. He surprised the world by smiling, joking, and even hugging a child during a papal audience. This shift from the formal "royal we" to the more relatable "first person singular" helped him connect with people and make teaching the faith more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Joyful approach to faith, holiness: Through following Jesus Christ and living a holy life, we can experience the joy that Pope John XXIII brought into the world, as he did as a young priest, cardinal, and pope.
Pope John XXIII, known for his joyful approach to faith, brought this joy to the papacy and the Second Vatican Council. He encouraged holiness and urged us all to strive for it, drawing inspiration from the saints who came before him. We learn that through following Jesus Christ and living a holy life, we can experience the joy that he brought into the world. As a young priest, John XXIII wrote about passing on the faith with joy, and as a cardinal, he wrote hilarious and inspiring letters to historical figures. When he was elected pope, he continued to spread this joy and call for holiness, inspiring us to do the same and become worthy of the kingdom and our vocations.
Holy Communion joy: Receiving Holy Communion with the greatest joy and happiness reflects the deepest part of our faith and brings us closer to the kingdom of God.
Key takeaway from the discussion about St. Jose Maria Escriva is that the way we receive Holy Communion reflects the joy and happiness it brings. St. Jose Maria Escriva, despite appearing serious in photographs, would have a massive smile on his face when distributing Holy Communion. He explained that as a saint, he was giving happiness in the flesh. This means that when we receive Holy Communion, we should do so with the biggest joy of our life, not just a smile on our face, but a smile that comes from the deepest part of our heart. This attitude is the road to the kingdom, not the path of the scribes and Pharisees, but the path of the saints. So, let us prepare ourselves to receive Jesus with the greatest joy and happiness we can muster, and let us remember that Holy Communion is not just a ritual, but an encounter with the joy incarnate. Praise be to Jesus Christ.