Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Ps. 139:1-3, 4-6, Matthew 23:23-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)
Today’s Gospel passage is a continuation of Jesus’ admonition to his disciples regarding the behaviour of the scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus lambasted for their hypocrisy and theological blindness. Jesus did not say tithing is sinful; rather, that tithing is not as important as justice, mercy, faith and the love of God. Jesus likened the emphasis on the tithe above other virtues to the difference between a gnat (a very tiny fly) and a camel. “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23:24). This is what we do when we equate the payment of a tithe with going to heaven.
Jesus never taught that failure to pay one’s tithe would make things tight in our lives. To assume that your difficulties are a result of your failure to pay tithes is like saying rain fell because you did not sweep your room. Some preachers even dare to say that failure to pay tithes amounts to stealing from God. Meanwhile, in Isaiah 66:1-2, we read:
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where will you build the house for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
Paying one’s tithe is not a sin, but it should never be done out of fear. God’s blessings are not reserved for tithers only. Jesus mentioned the washing of the outside of cups and dishes, while inside their hearts were full of extortion and rapacity (the violent seizure and carrying off of another’s property; plunder). When the preacher is only interested in what he can get from the people (the inside), his words (the outside) cannot be clean.
Consider St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading. “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.” These are the words of a preacher who is clean on the inside. “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” St. Paul converted multitudes because he preached the truth; he knew God tests the heart.
“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed, God is our witness.” It is not hard to tell when a preacher’s true motive is greed. You will always hear strange interpretations and theological distortions, such as “If you fail to tithe, it will be tight for you.”
St. Paul writes, “We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.” Preaching should never be about the achievements of the preacher. Sometimes, you hear them tell stories about what God did through them, but instead of giving credit to God, they use personal pronouns. “I raised the dead man to life… I touched him and that was it… I said to him…”
St. Paul says, “As apostles of Christ, we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.” (1 Thessalonians 2:3-7) As apostles of Christ, we must be more interested in feeding the people than being fed by them. We must never be angry when sent to minister to the poor or when posted to pastor rural communities.
We must behave like mothers who readily leave their comfort zones for their children’s sake. We must not burden our children with levies that they cannot afford. God, our shepherd, will always provide our needs if we seek Him first. (cf. Matthew 6:33). He knows how to touch people’s hearts to give even without our threats. The disciples left empty-handed but returned with joy. (Cf. Luke 10:17-20).
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, give us the grace to practice what we preach that our life may not preach a gospel different from that of our lips. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Tuesday of week 21 in Ordinary Time. Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Ps. 139:1-3, 4-6, Matthew 23:23-26 )
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu