Grace to You

The Memorial of St. Monica

~~~ 2Thes 1:1-5, 11-12 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~Matthew 23: 13-22 ~~~

 

We have this saying...the blind leading the blind...

My interpretation of this is if the teacher does not first

know the material then it is impossible to teach it to another.

Together we may we able to muddle through the material

but much will be lost in the process.

 

In the gospel message from Matthew Jesus is addressing the Scribes,

Pharisees, and the hypocrites.

He says you are supposed to be the most learned

and you have got it all wrong.

You cannot understand things for yourself,

 so how are you going to lead the rest?

 

Paul, by contrast, has his eyes and heart open.

He is in a much better state to share his knowledge.

Look just at how Paul greets his followers...

"...grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

Right away Paul's message is obviously instilled with the spirit of God.

He thanks God for those he writes to and praises them

"...your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another

grows ever greater..."

 

I cannot ever remember it recorded that the scribes or the Pharisees

said anything uplifting to those under them.

Instead they were masters at criticism.

They were diligent about looking for whether or not

you were following all of the prescribed rituals and laws.

 

Paul goes on to share how he speaks of the Thessalonians to others.

He uses their community as a model and inspiration for others.

 

The scribes and pharisees do not hold up any one community as an example.

They are prevented from seeing the good that is present.

They are not capable of giving thanks, because they do not see what

the people are doing right.

 

As a parent and a teacher,

 I know it is so much more effective to give genuine

praise to your children than to be ever

on the lookout for opportunities to reprimand.

 

Paul wants this group of people to know that he prays for them.

Paul prays for them with a specific intention in mind.

"...that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith..."

 

I do not know about you, but personally I would be thrilled if someone was

offering this prayer to God on my behalf.

Paul was so in love with the Lord that he could not keep it for himself.

He was compelled to share his joy in the Lord with all those he met.

 

The scribes and pharisees were compelled to share

with all of those they met,

but it was to prove they had all of the answers.

It was to prove that they were better than the rest of the lowly people.

They were better because

THEY had all of the right answers.

THEY knew how things were supposed to be done.

THEY were the educated.

THEY were the experts.

 

They were so caught up in their own greatness and egos

that they could not see that something better

was being laid out before their very eyes.

 

They continued to be the 'blind leading the blind'.

The people who followed Jesus perhaps felt

free from the critical eyes of the scribes and the pharisees.

 

 

Saint Monica is such a beautiful example today. 

Remember to always pray

even for that which seems impossible.

Paul prayed for his followers.

Saint Monica prayed for her son Augustine.

 

Our prayers are always answered.

Sometimes God makes us wait on him

lest we forget that he is God.

 

We are not God; we must trust his timing and the manner

in which he answers our prayers.

For he always answers even if he makes us wait.

He always answers our prayers even when we cannot see

that which is the actual answer.

 

On a personal note.

God recently answered one of my prayers

in the form of a big blue bus...

the Mega Bus.

In my wildest dreams I would never have prayed for a blue bus.

I have learned to never under estimate the creativity of our God.

He continues to amaze me!

I pray that each of you will allow God to amaze you

in unexpected ways.

Oh, and I might add that your eyes be able to see when

the answer is presented before you.

 

You can only accept that which is made visible to you.

St. Monica, pray for our conversion!