Devotion - Thursday, December 10

This morning's appointed Gospel reading continues Jesus critique of the Pharisees. He repeats words in Matthew 23:13-26 which are familiar to us. At least the first half of the verse is familiar. I realized, in my prayers, how easy it was for me to recall the well rehearsed, often repeated half. Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cumin.”

I can still remember my Sunday Church School teacher speaking of how ridiculous it was for those silly persons to carry a tenth of their spices to God, “As if God cared about their spices.” I loved Ms. Wooley and she taught me a deep love for my Bible, but she was mistaken in teaching us a literal understanding of this verse.

I don’t remember her instructing us on the remaining clause in this verse. Had she, we might have all avoided a simplistic understanding and a prideful slap at those silly Pharisees.

Jesus goes on to say, “(you) have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith.”

Justice and mercy and faith.

These are the three characteristics Jesus desires of his followers. These are the weightier matters, sought by the law.

The faith part we do discuss. Even if we tend to speak of faith as a mental exercise (i.e. to have faith is to believe unbelievable things; as opposed to understanding faith as a trusting relationship, malleable to the circumstances in which this day places me.) But what of justice and mercy? Where do we see these being practiced; when are they discussed in our Sunday Church School classes or preached from our pulpits?

I have been paying attention to the current debate in congress on health care reform. I hear in the discussions lots of references to affordability and oversight and intervention. There are not enough comments about how our policies seek justice and mercy.

If we are going to memorize passages of our Bibles, let us remember the whole verse. Let us recall the totality of God’s message to us. Remembering the parts which make us look good or the parts which make others look silly isn’t the way Jesus wanted us to remember his words.

Ms. Wooley was correct; God is not concerned with a portion of the spices I use to flavor my food. God is concerned with justice and mercy and faith. God is concerned with all three of these, and we should be too.