Praying Together April 27th 2025

Meditation for Easter 2

Collect

Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew 23:11-39

The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 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.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

The passage from Matthew’s Gospel gives a warning and example against which every Christian teacher and leader must be tested. As fallen humans, everyone will fall short of perfection– but we can measure lives against it.

As Christians irrespective of doctrine – and people of all faiths and none, for that matter – it would be wrong not to consider the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the very first Jesuit Pope, and respond to his leadership. His choice and adoption of the name Francis was highly significant, signalling the foundation and vision of his papacy.

esuit Catholicism emphasises social justice and an engagement with the world, particularly the poor and the dispossessed, recognising the face of Christ in each and every human being. Jesuits are committed to education, particularly in marginalised communities, and there is a fundamental belief in the need to preserve and nurture the beauty of creation. Additionally, Jesuits seek to find common ground with other faith traditions, exploring interfaith dialogue and collaboration. All of these attributes were clearly demonstrated in Francis’ life and ministry.
It is no wonder, then, that within the Roman Catholic Church, Francis met considerable opposition from those who wish to preserve the traditionalist hierarchy and formality – certainly not a majority, but a significant enough number, especially in senior roles, to generate concern that the next Pontiff would be chosen with a view to reversing some of the recent reforms in the practice of Catholicism – and it has become increasingly clear that in fact, there is still much reform needed. Going back to a strict old-style magisterium is unlikely to bring healing to those who have left a Church that has been party to covering up abuse and which refuses to accept the reality of modern society.

It is not for me as an Anglican to comment or criticise the selection process that will choose the one who will follow Francis– that is a matter for Roman Catholics alone. But it doesn’t stop me praying that whoever is chosen will have the same heart as his predecessor and continue to preach the Gospel of love and service and to live as Christ’s body in his ministry. Francis will be a hard act to follow. We give thanks for his life and pray for his successor.