Dear Friends,

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees come back to converse with Jesus, again with impure motives. Really? You would think that after the discourse from last week’s passage, they would just stay away from Him unless they were willing to enter into an authentic dialogue and respectful encounter. But they are so self-absorbed and held captive by their insecurity, their low self-esteem, their jealousy, and their inability to open their hearts to the Truth, who literally is standing right in front of them. Despite their gracious and duplicitous words, they despise Jesus because they are compelled to reveal what they truly believe in His Presence. They accuse Him of the very things of which they themselves are guilty, all the while making excuses for themselves and justifying their abhorrent behavior. Moreover, while they are relentless in their criticism of Jesus, they shelter themselves in the cocoon of entitled privilege (because of their status, age, wealth, or perceived influence). This self-made cocoon, in their own minds, protects them from having anyone challenge or question them; a courtesy they are unwilling to extend to those who disagree with their opinions. Between the passage from Chapter 22 of Matthew’s Gospel we heard last week and this; there were a few verses skipped that give the account of the conversation Jesus had with the Sadducees reference in today’s passage. They too, were trying to entangle and snare Jesus with their sophistry. He, of course, dispels the darkness of their intentions and sheds light on the reality to their shame. So, after Jesus silences the Sadducees, we pick up the story from last week. Legends in their own minds, the Pharisees, not concerned with Jesus in the least, see an opportunity to use Him to put themselves in a position of greater esteem among the crowds … so they engage Jesus a second time. If they were honorable and believed what they said to Jesus in last week’s passage addressing Him as, “Teacher, i.e., Rabbi” and “a truthful man” who teaches “the way of God in accordance with the truth;” then by the same Law by which they are trying to trap Jesus, they themselves would be bound to listen and follow what He says. They are exposed by the pure evil of their duplicity; their sugar-coated words are not authentic; rather, they use their words to deceive their hearers and to disguise their real motive to destroy this good and holy teacher of the Truth. Their hypocrisy is rebuked when Jesus states: “… [Repay] to God what belongs to God.” Jesus uses His words to reveal, not disguise, the truth.

While Judge Judy says: “You can’t fix stupid;” it seems that Jesus does not perceive his questioners to be stupid; more importantly, He knows that all of us are redeemable despite our actions. He looks lovingly at the Pharisees, repugnant as they are in their corruption and deceit, and sees what they themselves are unable to see and/or acknowledge in themselves … their dignity of being created in the image of the Eternal God. With laser focus, Jesus cuts through their fake question: “What is the greatest commandment?” The answer was obvious (if not required) and not up for debate among pious Jews at the time. So once again, Jesus responds, trying to soften their hardness of heart and direct their attention on what is Good, True, Beautiful and Holy: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; in other words, we must give yourself to God as completely as He gives Himself to us. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” In other words: You were created in the image and likeness of the Eternal Creator God the Lord of History; You bear the image of the God of Love on your very being, therefore, “Give to God what belongs to God.” Your heart, your soul, your mind … your very self is to be given in love to God as a response of the total Gift of Self that He has given lovingly already to you. For God’s sake, above and beyond what you owe to Caesar … know who you are and Whose you are … this is what is required of you.

Six hundred-eleven years ago (1415), on this Feast of Saints Crispin and Crispian, brothers and martyrs, King Henry V of England led his depleted and wearied troops to an incredible victory over the French, who outnumbered them 5 to 1, at the Battle of Agincourt. This historical event is celebrated in one of William Shakespeare’s plays, named after the great King Henry V. In our own day, it seems as if we need to be roused by an inspirational, encouraging and hopeful call to battle in our war against evil, in which the odds seem to be woefully against us. While fictional, may the battle field speech put into Henry’s mouth by Shakespeare, inspire us, especially the men in our community, to put on the armor of Christ and join our hearts and wills to His as He wages the fiery battle, to protect our families, our Catholic Faith and our nation against the raging dragon of old. Part of his speech follows: This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. [W. Shakespeare; Henry V - Act IV; Scene 3]

Be of good cheer and have a blessed week!

Msgr. Grous