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Jesus’ contentious conversations with the scribes and Pharisees over the last few weeks reminds me of a parable about a lion who was very proud. He decided to take a walk one day to demonstrate his mastery over all the other creatures. He strutted through the wilderness until he came across a bear. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, BEAR?” “Why of course you are, mighty lion.” He went on until he found the tiger. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, TIGER?” ‘Why you are, great lion.” Next the lion found the elephant. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, ELEPHANT?” The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk and spun him around a few times and slammed him to the ground. He then stepped on him a few times, picked him up again, dunked him in the water and finally threw him against a tree. The lion was seeing stars and took a minute to stand up. As he hobbled away, he said to the elephant, “LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET SO UPSET!’”
Of course, the lion was the one who wasn’t getting it. He was missing the truth, painfully demonstrated to him, just like many of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus gives a spiritual smackdown in today’s Gospel.
Now, this spiritual pride and blindness was a not a new problem! Our first reading condemns the unfaithful and bad behavior of the Old Testament priests who had wandered away from God and become an insult to his holiness. Not only are they hurting themselves, they are misleading others and making it more difficult to walk in the Lord’s ways.
Jesus was experiencing the same frustration. He had tried, over and over again to show the Scribes and Pharisees the error of their ways. He had worked miracles, offered parables, debated with them, and continually outsmarted their riddles. But still they hardened their hearts, refusing to humble themselves and learn their lesson. Because they refused every effort to turn back to God, Jesus knows he must try to save the people who look to them for guidance and inspiration. Otherwise, they will follow them to their own destruction.
So what are the pharisees and scribes doing that is so horrible and provokes such a strong condemnation from Jesus? In a word, it is pride. They equated looking good with being good and were content to appear holy without actually being holy. They practiced their faith in a way that made them feel superior to the people they were called to lead. For them, leadership consisted of crushing those beneath them with laws and rules, intimidating with intellectual arguments, and demanding acknowledgement and praise whenever they went. Jesus’ public ministry and preaching demonstrates the exact opposite type of leadership and example. He sought only to lift up those around him. His miracles were always directed towards the good of others and he often tried to keep them private. In his words and his actions, Jesus teaches what true power, greatness, and love consist of: humble service done to please God and help others rather than self-serving hypocrisy which draws attention and praise to oneself.
We would be wise to look inward as well. How much of the Pharisee mindset lives in us? How often do we seek recognition, demand respect with our credentials, or feel superior by what we have accomplished? How many of us define our worth and the value of others based on accolades, likes, or worldly acknowledgements which are here today and gone tomorrow. I have to share something embarrassing about that! When I was in HS, I was “accepted” into some sort of honor society. Good for me! But I wanted other people to know about my brilliance so I paid money to make sure my name was printed in some yearbook. I cannot even remember what year that was or where to find the listing. But at the time it made me feel elevated and superior. A small but very real example of the pharisee mindset alive and well in me! Are we willing to examine the ways we scheme, strive, and maneuver our way to praise, recognition, and admiration?
Hearing this sort of criticism is hard; realizing that we need to change our behavior or purify our motivations is unpleasant. Living in humble service to God and others is not usually our first choice. However, our Scriptures make it clear, such a way of life is what defines the Kingdom of God and its citizens. In order to enjoy true greatness and joy, the type that cannot be taken away, we must embrace the correction, the humility put forth by Jesus.
Doing so brings us to a place of peace and freedom. If we set our heart on pleasing God through humble service and heartfelt worship, we no longer fall hostage to comparing ourselves to others or finding value in our things, accomplishments, or status, all of which can be lost in an instant. If we set our hearts on pleasing God, obeying his word, letting him be our teacher, master, father, and friend, then the opinions of the world and and its false promises lose much of their power over us.
I think it must have been so difficult for Jesus to rebuke the scribes and pharisees in such a harsh way. He wanted them to be saved more than they wanted it for themselves. But as he saw them abuse the gifts, talents, and spiritual power that had been entrusted to them and lead others away from God, Jesus knew he had try and save those being harmed by their pride. Each of us is capable of the same arrogance, hypocrisy, and blindness. So let us give Jesus permission to teach us his values rather than binding ourselves to those of the world. Let us make sure a day never goes by without looking at a crucifix and reminding ourselves what true greatness and power look like. May we always seek to please God by humble service to him and the people around us. And may we know the peace that comes from putting others first and letting God exalt us in whatever way he sees fit!
