WEIGHTY MATTERS

PRAYER MOMENT                      

Tuesday 26 August 2014

WEIGHTY MATTERS

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithes of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law – justice, mercy, good faith.” (Matt 23:23-26)

Reflection. Jesus continues his fearless criticism of the religious leaders who concentrate on the formal practices of the law and ignore the spirit of that same law. They buttress their position as leaders by constantly insisting on easy matters they can control and leave to one side the basic issues of society concerning justice and compassion. This is clear enough looking back to Jesus’ time and we say, ‘How right he was!’ But what of our own daily experience where the temptation to preserve the appearances in our religion or in our state  while neglecting the essentials of social justice and mercy? There are areas where authorities can exert their power in trivial things, which harass and frustrate people, while those same authorities avoid the weightier matters that can get society moving.  

      

Prayer. Jesus, our Creator and Lord, you came to bring fire on the earth and became intensely angry with those who blocked the paths of justice and showed no compassion. Help us to seek ways to promote justice and compassion today. Amen

David Harold-Barry SJ