32ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR B 2024
HYPOCRITES LOOK OUT!
Mk 12.38-44 IKings 17.10-16 Heb 9.20-28
My conclusion to last week’s homily was thus: “The love Jesus proclaims and lives is the opposite or antithesis of ‘Survival of the Fittest’! So let’s take it to heart, and live it out ourselves in our own lives.”
While I also said last week, Jesus affirms the separation of Church and State, with his response to the question about taxes and who is rightly owed them, at the same time, certain principles need to be upheld, whether by Church or State.
With the events of the last week, I can’t but help comment that it’s a sad reflection on a society when truth and facts don’t seem to matter as much as bluster, bravado and rhetoric, particularly from one who doesn’t much value these fundamental principles, along with denial of scientific facts. Then a majority of people, including Catholics, seem to be impressed and deluded by such, which I find difficult to comprehend, nor to align with the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus.
Certainly, there is dissatisfaction in society about the cost of living and fair wages and conditions, which Catholic social teaching advocates, but there are ways and means of addressing such issues without the need to use fear and loathing as weapons of opposition. Scapegoating of, and so blaming immigrants, those of different colour or backgrounds and beliefs, for society’s problems, is so off track and just morally wrong. Yet, it can a provide simplistic answer to make us feel better about ourselves, yet provides no practical solutions, and often results in unjust and unsatisfactory outcomes.
On another level altogether, I take an example of genuine Gospel application and living. With the recent death of Peruvian liberation theologian Gustavo Guttierez at 97, Bernie Lane, our Columban friend around the corner in Strathmore, and who has spent decades in Peru doing great mission work, messaged me: “Yes, I knew of Gustavo’s passing…the complete and final ‘liberation’ for him. He was a good friend to the Columbans there in Peru. John Hegerty and I shared some reflections at our Community Eucharist this morning. We knew him personally. He was an outstanding, exceptional person whose deep, loving, servicial faith was expressed as a renowned theologian, but just as importantly the inspirational witness of his life as pastor and teacher and someone who served the Gospel, the Church and dedicated himself in solidarity with and for the poor.”
Here we have a man who, fortunately, unlike assassinated Australian Josephite Sister Irene McCormack (in 1991 at the age of 52), survived the horrors of the ‘Shining Path’ terrorists in Peru in the 1980’s, along with the sneaking suspicions and criticism of certain members of the Roman Congregation for Doctrine and Faith, and their negativity towards him and liberation theology in general. He stuck with his principles all the way through, living his faith as a questioning theologian and active pastor at the grass roots of his society, particularly with the poor and downtrodden. Here is where the Gospel is clearly applied in action, not just in pious thoughts and platitudes.
Today’s Gospel concludes Jesus’ public ministry in Mark’s account, before Jesus speaks in apocalyptic terms of end times, of which we’ll hear more of the scary stuff next week.
Meanwhile, here we have some further practical examples of where religion has been misinterpreted by some of the so-called leaders, in this case, scribes, whose primary role is to interpret the Jewish Law. Jesus confronts them for their hypocrisy in making life more difficult for the ordinary people, imposing unnecessary burdens of observance, and yet seeking pride of place and admiration of others, with a pretence of piety and prayers, while extorting what they could from those who could least afford it.
Whilst the stolai (presumably the origin of the colourful priest’s stole I now wear, with its signs and symbols) was meant to be a prayer shawl, it had evolved into a showpiece of fashion for flattery, and a means of drawing attention to oneself, enhancing prestige and honour, rather than worn for religious practice and prayer. It’s a clear ‘denunciation of the public display of the scribes’, as Raymond Brown SS puts it, and so their hypocrisy behind the scenes, where they could act for defenceless widows, and fill their deep pockets and feather their own nests with the proceeds.
As the JBC (Jerome Biblical Commentary) expresses it: “The ostentatious and hypocritical scribes criticized in this passage are the opposite of what Jesus wants his disciples (and so you and me) to be. Jesus warns against the scribes’ search for honour and prestige, and their draining of the resources of widows, while keeping up the pretence of piety.”
And Brendan Byrne SJ says: “We can admire the widow’s generosity and faith, while remaining critical of the religious system that drove her to such extremes.”
The contrast Jesus provides is clear, where he portrays and praises the poor widow, giving her all, beyond the call of duty, but out of the generosity of her own heart. No doubt, they resented him seeing through their two-faced and insincere outlook.
And so the clouds darken, as Jesus has entered Jerusalem for the last time, to face his fate, as the underlying resentment of the religious leaders and Temple police comes to the fore, as he continues to proclaim a Gospel of Good News for all who will listen and respond, and provide care for those in need, in a society where there was no social security or welfare net. At the same time, we maintain religious practice, with our rituals of prayer and sacraments to guide us along the path of faithful discipleship in word and deed and pastoral care of all.
john hannon 10th November 2024