This Sunday's Gospel and rigidity

[bquinnan]

I was looking ahead at this Sunday’s readings:

usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

When I read the Gospel, I wonder how many people heard Jesus’ words and thought that he was being “too rigid.” People are called Pharisees if they so much as remind people of the moral teachings of the Church, yet Jesus tells us our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. It’s pretty hard-hitting.

 

[M-Dent]

I was looking ahead at this Sunday’s readings:

usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

When I read the Gospel, I wonder how many people heard Jesus’ words and thought that he was being “too rigid.” People are called Pharisees if they so much as remind people of the moral teachings of the Church, yet Jesus tells us our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. It’s pretty hard-hitting.

There are so many deep lessons one can draw from Matthew 5 – yet, on the point of being hard-hitting; yes it could have been quite jarring to some listeners at the time given Jesus was pronouncing he was God. Then he raised the bar.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

 

[PJM]

I was looking ahead at this Sunday’s readings:

usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

When I read the Gospel, I wonder how many people heard Jesus’ words and thought that he was being “too rigid.” People are called Pharisees if they so much as remind people of the moral teachings of the Church, yet Jesus tells us our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. It’s pretty hard-hitting.

So TRUE

A far more accurate term would be “Humble OBEDIENCE”

What I [ME HERE} find astounding about the term “rigidity” is How it attempts to redefine the term TRUTH, which can only be singular per defined issue:

Truth
Ps.145 Verses 17 to 18 “
[17] The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.[18] The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

Dictionary Definition of “Truth”
The true or actual state of a matter:

1. conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.
2. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.
3. the state or character of being true.
4. actuality or actual existence.
5. an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.
6. honesty; integrity; truthfulness.
7. (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived
   experience:
8. agreement with a standard or original.
   9… accuracy, as of position or adjustment.
9. Archaic. Fidelity or constancy.

TEN REALITES of a single truth

GBY

Patrick

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I was looking ahead at this Sunday’s readings:

usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

When I read the Gospel, I wonder how many people heard Jesus’ words and thought that he was being “too rigid.” People are called Pharisees if they so much as remind people of the moral teachings of the Church, yet Jesus tells us our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. It’s pretty hard-hitting.

I think your misreading this. The Pharisees were not righteous, they were self-righteous. They were lording the Law over people, condemning people for the slightest infractions. Jesus called them hippocrates. The people the Pharisees would condemn were everyday working people with hard lives, not like the upper class who were well educated and lavished upon themselves…this includes the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus was saying that one would have to be more merciful, loving, just etc… than the Pharisees. Jesus was not referring to following Mosaic Law or any other obligations other than having to do with the two commandments He gave: Love God and love your neighbor.

 

[jcrichton]

I was looking ahead at this Sunday’s readings:

usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

When I read the Gospel, I wonder how many people heard Jesus’ words and thought that he was being “too rigid.” People are called Pharisees if they so much as remind people of the moral teachings of the Church, yet Jesus tells us our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. It’s pretty hard-hitting.

Hi, B!

…I think that you must understand that people love hollowood’s spiritualism… even those from the pulpit enjoy engaging in it… (“don’t judge,” “I’m no saint,” and that good ole “God loves you just as you are”–or something to that effect); people also love to use Scriptures to debunk Scriptures…

…what did Jesus actually state about Pharisees and Sadducees?

…well, He called them hypocrites… because they circumvented God’s Commands, they forced others to live out the Faith in manners that they themselves would not uphold, and they taught others their shortcuts as mandates from God… they also rejected Christ’s Teachings…

…some of these practiced legalism… they went to Scriptures and interpreted the text with a rigidity that often demonstrated a lack of understanding of God’s Love and Mercy…

As an example… we have the Sabbath… they sought to kill Jesus because He would heal people on a Sabbath… they would cite the Commandment to keep the Sabbath Holy… yet, it escaped them that Jesus would do good to a man on a Sabbath day… sometimes not only healing the body but also the spirit… so one time Jesus challenged them… He asked them, why would they deny good done to a man, Created in the image and likeness of God, on a Sabbath while they would rescue/give water to one of their animals on Sabbath?

…so these people who do not want to be reminded of God’s Commandments are the true hypocrites who would practice unrighteousness and reject righteousness on the grounds of “too demanding.”

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[bquinnan]

I think your misreading this. The Pharisees were not righteous, they were self-righteous. They were lording the Law over people, condemning people for the slightest infractions. Jesus called them hippocrates. The people the Pharisees would condemn were everyday working people with hard lives, not like the upper class who were well educated and lavished upon themselves…this includes the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus was saying that one would have to be more merciful, loving, just etc… than the Pharisees. Jesus was not referring to following Mosaic Law or any other obligations other than having to do with the two commandments He gave: Love God and love your neighbor.

I don’t think I am misreading this. Jesus uses the word “righteous” regarding the Pharisees – that was his word: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20). He also says in this same reading: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17). I believe what he is saying is that that the moral law still stands, and it’s in fact harder than many people realize – to even look at someone and want to kill them is to kill, etc. Interestingly, he even brings up divorce here:
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’ But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Matt 5:31-33)

Everything begins with the two greatest commandments, but he gets pretty specific here. To me this is exactly why we need the Church to remain steadfast (although some would say rigid) in teaching the truth.

 

[bquinnan]

…what did Jesus actually state about Pharisees and Sadducees?

What he says here is: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20)

I think what he is saying is that, as he says, he did not come to abolish the law, and in fact the law is deeper and harder to keep than even the scribes and Pharisees realize. (I assume when he says that he came to fulfill the law, he is referring to his death on the cross as remission for our sins – thanks be to God!) But the law still holds.

It just struck me as a relevant Gospel when considering those voices – some from within the Church – who say that priests and bishops are being “too rigid” when they remind the faithful of the moral teachings of the Church.

 

[jcrichton]

I don’t think I am misreading this. Jesus uses the word “righteous” regarding the Pharisees – that was his word: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20). He also says in this same reading: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17). I believe what he is saying is that that the moral law still stands, and it’s in fact harder than many people realize – to even look at someone and want to kill them is to kill, etc. Interestingly, he even brings up divorce here:
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’ But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Matt 5:31-33)

Everything begins with the two greatest commandments, but he gets pretty specific here. To me this is exactly why we need the Church to remain steadfast (although some would say rigid) in teaching the truth.

Hi, B!

I fully concur with your conclusion.

Jesus never backed down from His Teachings… when He expounded on the indissolubility of marriage even His Disciples were groaning… so Jesus upped the ante… celibacy is a Gift and not everyone can accept it!

…yes, the Church needs to reach out to all her members… but watering down God’s Commandments will never bring anyone closer to Salvation.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

What he says here is: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20)

I think what he is saying is that, as he says, he did not come to abolish the law, and in fact the law is deeper and harder to keep than even the scribes and Pharisees realize. (I assume when he says that he came to fulfill the law, he is referring to his death on the cross as remission for our sins – thanks be to God!) But the law still holds.

It just struck me as a relevant Gospel when considering those voices – some from within the Church – who say that priests and bishops are being “too rigid” when they remind the faithful of the moral teachings of the Church.

Hi, B!

…what I meant was that Jesus did not hold the religious in great esteem; He saw through their façade as they ignore/circumvented the Law and made themselves 'gods" amongst the people. He challenged them about God’s Mercy and Justice… and He demanded that His own Disciple hold to a greater justice/righteousness than the religious… as you’ve stated in a previous post… Jesus not only held the rightness of the Law but He unfolded a higher meaning/purpose… ‘if you think it in your mind, you’ve committed adultery!’ (paraphrased)

…the reason why people complain is because the culture has been elevated above the Word of God… we want to join the immoral secularism while still securing our “Salvation” through “mercy” and “love.”

While it is true that Christ Delegated His Authority to the Church… it is not true that the Church can relax Christ’s Commandments!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I don’t think I am misreading this. Jesus uses the word “righteous” regarding the Pharisees – that was his word: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20). He also says in this same reading: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17). I believe what he is saying is that that the moral law still stands, and it’s in fact harder than many people realize – to even look at someone and want to kill them is to kill, etc. Interestingly, he even brings up divorce here:
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’ But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Matt 5:31-33)

Everything begins with the two greatest commandments, but he gets pretty specific here. To me this is exactly why we need the Church to remain steadfast (although some would say rigid) in teaching the truth.

The fact remains, the Pharisees were not righteous people

• The Pharisees, who loved money,* heard all these things and sneered at him.
  15
  And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.e
  Sayings About the Law.
  16
  “The law and the prophets lasted until John;* but from then on the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone who enters does so with violence.f
  17
  It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter of the law to become invalid.

Do you see what Jesus is saying here in Luke? “Heaven and earth pass away” is referring to his crucifixion. Jesus is saying that the Pharisees are so corrupt that the most insignificant part of Mosaic Law, which was in part arbitrarily created by Pharisees themselves and tacked on to Moses’ laws, could not be undone without His death and resurrection. The law lasted until John, that is, Mosaic Law. In Matthew, Jesus is saying that none of the Mosaic Law will pass until He is crucified.

It’s a statement of the level of corruption in the Temple, not a commentary of how useful a bunch of complicated rules are. Yes, Jesus fulfilled, or brought what was the intention of the commandments back from what the Pharisees had done to it. Jesus said about divorce, that divorce had never been okay, but was allowed because of the hardness of their hearts.

 

[ELROD]

I just got out of mass this morning. This is what the priest who is filling in for our regular priest said after reading the gospel that included plucking out your eye, cutting off your member and divorcing:

“Disregarding the last half of what I read” Then he mentioned how God loves everyone and the lost sheep. Somewhere in there he told us we were not catholic, that there was no such thing as catholic and that we were just Christians.

I mean, he told us to disregard half of the gospel reading!

 

[PluniaZ]

I just got out of mass this morning. This is what the priest who is filling in for our regular priest said after reading the gospel that included plucking out your eye, cutting off your member and divorcing:

“Disregarding the last half of what I read” Then he mentioned how God loves everyone and the lost sheep. Somewhere in there he told us we were not catholic, that there was no such thing as catholic and that we were just Christians.

I mean, he told us to disregard half of the gospel reading!

Shame on you for speaking ill of a priest.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I just got out of mass this morning. This is what the priest who is filling in for our regular priest said after reading the gospel that included plucking out your eye, cutting off your member and divorcing:

“Disregarding the last half of what I read” Then he mentioned how God loves everyone and the lost sheep. Somewhere in there he told us we were not catholic, that there was no such thing as catholic and that we were just Christians.

I mean, he told us to disregard half of the gospel reading!

So, he read the long version then told everyone to disregard it? Then told everyone they weren’t Catholic, did a mic drop, and sat down?

 

[jcrichton]

I just got out of mass this morning. This is what the priest who is filling in for our regular priest said after reading the gospel that included plucking out your eye, cutting off your member and divorcing:

“Disregarding the last half of what I read” Then he mentioned how God loves everyone and the lost sheep. Somewhere in there he told us we were not catholic, that there was no such thing as catholic and that we were just Christians.

I mean, he told us to disregard half of the gospel reading!

Hi!

…yeah, more hollowood’s mumbo jumbo spiritualism… that calls to discard Scriptures when they take man away from what he “feels” is “right” and all are God’s “children” (yep even the aggressive atheist)…

…though he is right in that we do not practice the Belief in Catholicity but our Faith is in Christ; we are Catholics in that we are the Universal Church of Christ.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[James248]

Shame on you for speaking ill of a priest.

If what he is says is true then there will be greater shame.

 

[ELROD]

If what he is says is true then there will be greater shame.

I must confess James, every word I said was true. He even said more things that my wife reminded me of while we were discussing all this. I can’t even think of them no, I guess God is helping me forget them.

 

[jcrichton]

If what he is says is true then there will be greater shame.

Hi, James!

…I think that poster was being sarcastic… often enough Priests and other Religious seem to think that they can expressed their own personal opinions and present them as Church Teachings… sadly, too often parishioners do not complaint to their Priests, Rectors, and Bishops… or if they do… they are met with silence or observations such as was expressed… or something to the effect of: ‘we must err on the side of caution… perhaps what you think was said was not really what was expressed/meant…’

Maran atha!

Angel