Weeping in the streets of Jerusalem

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Weeping in the streets of Jerusalem

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Second Week of Lent

Matthew 23:10-11

Jesus said, “You have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant.”

Jesus goes after the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Listen to what they say, but do not do what they do. Because they don’t practice what they preach. And worse, they will not help those they teach with the burden created by their teaching. “Not even with one of their fingers.” He tears them apart with one accusation after another. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

Jesus’ voice takes on the tenor of an Old Testament prophet. His words sound out a magnificent condemnation, unmatched even by Jeremiah or Isaiah. Every leader’s face must be burning with rage if not with recognition. “See! Your house is left to you desolate.”

They have refused to see the gift God sent, his son, and they are about to have him killed. Jesus knows this and weeps for their own lost chance to live. “How often I wanted to gather your children together, but you were not willing!” And now all he can say is what he knows will happen: “You shall see me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

The antidote to their hypocrisy is simple. Start serving. “All your works are performed to be seen,” he says. Stop that. Don’t strive to be seen. Just serve.

We all know this. Don’t we? Still, I need your approval. I need you to pat me on the back and tell me what God has already told me, how wonderful I am. And I will be sure to tell you too. Because I know you need approval just like me.

Sociopaths don’t need the approval of others, but the rest of us do. Jesus clears up the contradiction by pairing greatness and servanthood. He approves my service, not my success. And he looks toward the back of the room for the ones he wants to pat on the back.

Sure, I will always run the risk of being proud of my humility. But that’s a lot better than being proud of my pride.

I expect Jesus will help me every day to be more humble. And he’ll never stop loving me, and he’ll never stop rubbing my back, and I can always expect to see his smile.

You say, Lord, you will make our scarlet sins as white as snow, if only we are willing, if only we obey, if only we make justice our aim, redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Make me willing in my mind and words and deeds, and hold me accountable, Lord, to be a servant always. Shut my proud words up, and still my soul.

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