So many messages in today’s Gospel… too many to develop each into a meaningful reflection. There is an obvious reference to filial obedience. Sometimes we have good intentions and they fizzle out to nothing when it comes to action. At other times, surprisingly even to ourselves, we follow God’s will despite everything we had publicly proclaimed and had even planned.
When something like that happens to me, I know it was the Holy Spirit or Virgin Mary or my guardian angel who directed me to the good action, gave me strength to oppose evil, endowed me with courage to act contrary to my weak nature. Am I grateful enough for those moments of my filial obedience?
Jesus’ words can shake us to the core
There is yet another strain of thought in this Gospel, rather difficult to follow. Time and again Jesus overturns our human thinking literally upside down. Last week we had the workers of the single, “11th hour” receive full payment for work. Illogical, isn’t it? This week we hear that the thieving collaborators with occupants and the prostitutes are entering Kingdom of God before the decent people who are clean-living and observe religious law to the letter.
This mind-boggling statement of Jesus, if taken seriously (as it should be – these are the words of God), can shake one to the core.
Why would the “scum of society” be allowed into the Kingdom at all? What was so special about the prostitutes and the tax collectors that gave them priority before the righteous, religious, Law-observing men? And – on which side am I, myself? Am I a hybrid, a bit of both?
Allowing to be surprised by God’s love
In their hope of achieving God’s blessing and favour the “chief priests and elders of the people” (named so by the Gospel author) relied on their intelligence, learning, their knowledge of the Law and meticulous observation of it. They were very, very conscious of their position as religious leaders and role models for commoners. They abhorred sin and sinner alike. Would they have walked into the waters of Jordan to be baptized by John? No way! – how could they? That would have amounted to admitting that they were sinners, like the rest.
When time and again they came to ask Jesus who he was, they did not really listen to his words. It is always an interrogation. They had all the answers they needed, their own answers.
They refused to be surprised by Love and did not need it. They needed their human order to continue and while busy sorting sins of the others into categories meriting varying punishments, they forgot all about Mercy.
Healed by His Mercy
Unlike them, the prostitutes and the tax collectors, those despicable public sinners were well aware of their low moral status. Those were the times when you did not deny sins committed. Ten Commandments were still known. A thief knew he was a thief and a woman working streets accepted the fact that honest women would not talk to her, the slut. They were crushed by the weight of their sins and that is why they were also open to Love, overwhelming them, purifying them, healing and bringing joy with it.
It is good to be crushed – even by our sins – if the resulting wounds and then the joy at being forgiven open us to Jesus. Sin can become a springboard to the Kingdom.
Maria Kozakiewicz