Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 12, 2022
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
Today’s gospel is a good one for me to remember when I am in a place of spiritual self-puffery—too much self-reliance is the enemy of the soul. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their lack of love. They are proud of their abilities to follow the most exacting letter of the law, yet they forget the most important things: love of God and love of neighbor.
In her brilliant short story, “Revelation,” Flannery O’Connor holds a mirror to our souls in the character of Ruby Turpin. Mrs. Turpin has an interior monologue reflecting on her many accomplishments. At the same time, she is sharply critical of those around her for failing to meet her exacting standards.
Mrs. Turpin takes on the role of God. She sets the rules, alone keeps them, and then pronounces judgment on the rest of the world. Grace comes to Mrs. Turpin in a shocking exchange with a young woman that helps her to see things are not as she thought and that God may have a big surprise in store for her.
Through her self-revelation, we, too, have our eyes opened. It is a parable on spiritual pride in which all of us who harbor just a little bit of the Pharisee share Mrs. Turpin’s consternation. A moment of grace for all of us sinners.
St. Mother Teresa reminded us, “at the end of life, we are going to be judged on the basis of our love for one another.” It is difficult to love and serve our neighbor when we rely solely on our perceived goodness for strength.
When we can throw ourselves into the loving arms of Jesus held open for us on the cross, we can say with complete trust, “Ave Crux, Spes Unica!” Hail the cross, our only hope!
It is only then that we can genuinely love both God and neighbor.
Prayer
Protect us from egos that seek glory over God’s love of others; give us wisdom to realize that all that really matters is honoring your will. Strengthen us this day so we sidestep the temptation of earthly applause just to appear a little more important to the detriment of doing what is truly important. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Cyprian and Felix were bishops who stood at the head of 5,000 people who were driven into the desert because they were Christian.
Cyprian and Felix led communities in northern Africa in the fifth-century Church. When the area came under the power of the Vandals, the foreign king persecuted Christians by exiling them into a prison in the Libyan desert. They were tortured on their way, and many died during the journey.
The Vandal king finally decided to have them killed by being led out into the wilderness. The Christians emerged from the prison singing psalms together. Felix was very old and disabled, and it was suggested that he could be left alone to die, but the king ordered him to be taken out on a donkey. Stones were thrown at the Christians, and those who fell behind were pricked with spears to urge them forward until they died of exhaustion and exposure.
Cyprian was another bishop who tended these persecuted Christians, and it is reported that he spent all of his time and energy and resources caring for them. He was eventually also arrested and exiled, where he died from the harsh treatment.
Relics of Sts. Cyprian and Felix rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
Sts. Cyprian and Felix, you supported your persecuted community experiencing exile and martyrdom—pray for us!