If we were to ask the Beloved Son of God what His message is, He might respond, “My message is the way I live”. The thoughts of His heart and the words of His mouth are in complete harmony. This makes it easier for Jesus to spot those who are not yet integrated in this way. His teaching sometimes unmasks the discordant messages and behaviour of the religious elite, and, sadly, some of those who claim to be His disciples. These people might know the ‘Shema Israel’ back to front and they can recite it many times a day. But the teachings have not yet found their way into their hearts. The result – hypocrisy, pretence, duplicity and violence. They say one thing but they live another. Jesus is watching.
What He sees is that selfishness has taken priority over Love. What the scribes like about being a scribe is not the blessing and challenge of the Charter for Justice. They like the superficial externals; the best robes, the best seats, the best food, the best company. They gravitate towards anything that makes them the centre of the universe. Even when they pray it is an act. They never really, genuinely open their hearts to God.
This selfishness has pushed Love for others away too. In today’s Gospel, the neighbour happens to be a widow whose meagre resources are plundered by scheming scribes. In every sense, the widow is a powerful symbol of everyone in our community who is vulnerable. The vulnerable have a very special place in God’s Heart (Psalm 68,5). God also makes Justice for the ‘widow’ a condition for residing with His people (Jer 7,6). But the most vulnerable are also powerfully attractive to abusers. Could the scene be set that the widow has come in desperation to pray to God for help? And who is there to help her with her prayers but those who claim to know the ins and outs of divine favour. And, of course, there is a fee…
Everywhere in the Gospel Jesus champions human need over the hardened practices of the synagogues. Now He targets the Temple Treasury. When He sits opposite the treasury it becomes a symbol for all that He cannot bear about badly organised religion. The widow divests herself of all support. Her generosity plays into the devouring greed of the Temple. Those who are supposed to defend, shelter and protect her, leave her penniless. What is most frightening is that she cooperates with the exploitation – a condition often mentioned in literature on oppression. Jesus is watching and He has already warned, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority like to be called ‘benefactor’ “. (Lk,22). The oppressed often think that their oppressors are benefitting them! Is the house of God really benefitting the widow when her own house comes crashing down? Jesus called those who worked in the treasury a ‘den of robbers’. Has this woman freely donated the last of her livelihood or has a subtle theft taken place? The widow might not know, but the Beloved Son of God, who is sensitive to all duplicity, has not missed it.
Jesus can spot a hypocrite very easily. The split between the inside (heart) and outside (lips=words) is a common ailment of people, especially religious people, who think they are better than everyone else. Also, it is assumed that they are aware of their condition and consciously embrace it. This makes them agents of the evil one. Only thoughtful and highly integrated people notice the gap between what is preached and what is practiced. It is difficult to see the exploitation of the widow as she stands against the huge backdrop of Temple theology and policy. Donating to the Temple is a sign of one’s sincerity and commitment. To give to the House of God is to give to God. However, the overriding concern of God is for the poor and the most vulnerable. This revelation preceded the Temple and was one of the driving forces of the Exodus from Egypt. No religious policy should create a situation where the vulnerable become even more vulnerable.
The house of the Father of orphans and widows (Ps 68,5) does not devour the houses of widows. The teaching of Jesus exposes the truth. I wonder what kind of response He will get!
