ARE YOU A SINNER? ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Tuesday, 13th December 2016,

Third Week of Advent

Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

Zeph 3: 1-2, 9-13;

Ps 34: 2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23;

Mt 21: 28-32

ARE YOU A SINNER?

Today’s reading from Zephaniah presents a warning and woes to those who refuse correction, those who refuse to hear, and those who refuse to trust in God. In the Gospel, Jesus states that: ‘the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before the elders and chief priests of the temple’. Were tax collectors and prostitutes really entering the Kingdom of God before these religious leaders? Was Jesus really saying that the holiness of the prostitutes and tax collectors actually surpassed that of these religious leaders? Yes, it was especially the pride of these religious leaders that made it difficult for them to accept the words from Jesus. They thought highly of themselves and expected others to think highly of them also. They were convinced of their own self-righteousness and it was quite an ugly scene. But Jesus cuts through all of this by elevating the prostitutes and tax collectors to the Kingdom of God.

Let us reflect if we relate ourselves to the prideful religious leaders of that time or rather to the tax collectors and prostitutes. Perhaps it’s hard to admit to relating to either group. Perhaps the tendency is to want to identify ourselves as good and righteous people. But Jesus wants us to see ourselves in the grouping of the tax collectors and prostitutes. This is because we are all sinners. We may not be guilty of the same sin as they were, but we are guilty of sin and we have to admit it. And, in fact, if we cannot admit our weakness and sin, we are no different than the elders and chief priests. We are also stuck in our own pride and our own self-righteousness.

Prayer: Lord, please do fill my heart with humility. And in that humility, help me to see myself as I am. Help me to see my sin but also to see my longing for you. Help me to turn to You in my sin and to experience the joy and freedom of those entering Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen