It's all about charity

"Woe to you Pharisees!"

Luke 11: 42 - 46

The Word: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101619.cfm

The readings for today are harsh and uncomfortable in their language.  In the Gospel, Jesus offers a stern warning to the teachers:  "Woe to you Pharisees!" not once but three times.  He castigates their self imposed importance, their misguided emphasis on the law in the face of love for God, their love for honor and prestige, and their unfair legalism which strangles the faithful with unrealistic burdens of expectation. 

Paul in the first reading makes it clear to the Romans that they are headed for ruin because of their judgmental attitude towards others while learning from God who offers compassion and mercy which leads to conversion.  He minces no words in saying: ". . .affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil . . . but there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good." 
Whew! 

While the words may seem unusually tough, in the end it is a lesson for all of us to know that the higher law of charity towards others must always be our foundation.  The mark of a Christian is forgiveness and charity, love, towards others.  In the face of violence, we offer non-violence.  In the face of evil, we counter with good.  In the face of selfishness, we offer generosity.  Such counter values may seem unrealistic at times but in the end they all portray a higher, more excellent way as St. Paul reminds us.  In the end it is to be Christ to one another. 

Charity above all for no one of us is without sin yet everyone of us is offered grace upon grace for a God who desires our conversion.  It is not easy being a Christian; it never was.  In today's world so secular and nonreligious, particularly for us who profess the Catholic faith, it's a road to walk.

Much has afflicted us in the Church, some of it brought as a result of bad leadership and scandalous behavior by clergy and others, but in the end the mission of the Church remains the same give to us by Jesus.  In this time of purification we must stand strong and give an even more credible witness to Gospel values.  To make the Church attractive and offer people a reason to follow Christ more deeply. 

As they said of the early Christians, we hope the same is said of us:  "See how they love one another."