A Stunning Dissonance: Judgment and Compassion

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, July 10. 2024

Proper 9, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. . . . .29Woe to you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,

30 and you say, "If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.”

31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.. . .

37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Devotional Readings (BCP, 975)

AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14

Deut. 1:1-18; Rom. 9:1-18; Matt. 23:27-39

David’s Reflections

In today’s reading, I am stunned at the dissonance of tone. Matthew 23 contains Jesus' most vitriolic critique of the religious leaders of Judah. Today's reading includes the final paragraphs of that  chapter. The formulaic phrase, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" recurs six times. From the nature of Jesus' criticisms, we can draw a conclusion about the nature of hypocrisy--a rupture between the inner and outer life. Observable behaviors contradict the inner life of the hypocrite, a fundamental lack of integrity that leads to inconsistencies in the lived patterns of the hypocrite’s experience.

One of Jesus' most trenchant criticisms resonates with our own struggle against inner blindness. He says that the religious leaders read the history of Israel's rejection of the biblical prophets and profess that had they been alive at that time they would not have rejected the prophets (see verses 29-30). What a detached reading of the narratives of their predecessors' relationship with God!  Jesus' contemporaries knew the ultimate outcome of the idolatry of the past generations, so they could sit smugly by and pass judgment on the blindness of their ancestors.

Like those religious leaders, we can read the narratives of the past much more readily than we can critique the narrative of our own life story. We know the ending of the biblical narratives, which gives us a vantage point from which to critique the failures of those generations.  Yet, we do not read quite so well nor anticipate quite so wisely when reading and living our own life narratives.

That dissonance of tone stuns me when I get to verses 37-39, Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem. He can foresee the ultimate outcome of Israel's

rejection of his ministry--a choice for a policy of military solution against

Rome. The outcome of such rebellion will be the razing of Jerusalem and of the Temple. Jesus could foresee Rome's devastating military response.

He speaks directly to the city and cries out that he would have gathered her inhabitants like a mother hen protects her chicks under her wings.  However, Jerusalem's inhabitants have said "no" to Jesus' efforts to regather them. The tenderness of his lament softens the rough edges of the critiques found earlier in this chapter. His love for Israel could not be more obvious.  How often has Jesus spoken these or similar words to you and to me? Were it not for his persistent searching, we would be wanderers from grace.

On first glance, the tone of the two segments of this reading feels dissonant—harsh critique followed by tearful lament over those same people. Yet, could we not see the polemic as arising from persistent, if frustrated love, the same love that gave rise to the lament? As a prophet, Jesus’ motivation for speech and action arises from compassion. This Gospel reading cautions us to check the inner roots of our feelings of judgment. Do they arise from compassion or from bias and anger?

Jesus’ example challenges us to re-vision those we condemn as broken and destined for tragic life outcomes. Like him, we can learn to live with the dissonance that compassion creates—a sense of rejection of hypocrisy coupled with compassion for those whose hypocrisy we reject.

Collect of the Day, Proper 9, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to your with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 230-31)

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For Our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 816)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 23:27-39 (NRSV)

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.  28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  29 Woe to you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,

30 and you say, "If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets."

31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.  32 Fill up then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore, I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,  35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.  36 Truly, I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate.  39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer