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The Yardstick

Measuring Tape

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


If today we see a clear common thread between the sin of the Pharisees at which Jesus sighs in the gospel, and the sin of Cain from centuries earlier in the first reading, perhaps we can identify an attribute common to sin in general. And if we can identify a common attribute, perhaps we can identify its seeds germinating in us, even before we fall into it, and uproot those seeds.

At first glance, Cain may appear to have a right to be disgruntled. The first reading does not specify why God wasn’t please with his offering. Maybe Cain and Abel both did the best they could, and God was being finicky.

Not likely, though. It appears safe to assume that Cain either didn’t do his best in cultivating the field, or his offering to God was not the best from what he had. He had done the primeval equivalent of phoning it in.

Cain is angry and resentful about God’s reaction to his offering. Here is where we can stop, and look at the Pharisees’ attitude for commonality.

The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign “to test him.” The Pharisees consider themselves the arbiters, the judges, and Jesus the one who needs to prove Himself. With God Himself right in their midst, they have set themselves in His chair–on the chair of judgement, and judgement over Him.

Not so far afield from what Cain was doing. When he became disgruntled at God’s reaction, rather than using God as the measuring stick and adjusting himself accordingly, Cain used himself as the measuring stick and thus found fault with God–and ultimately, unable to punish God, he took it out on Abel. Like the Pharisees, he set himself in the judgement seat over God.

The sin of pride. There it is. Unwillingness to be schooled by God, or schooled by others.

Even Eve seems to have learned her lesson in the first reading, to have eaten some humble pie. She recognizes that she has not “become like gods” as promised by the serpent–she recognizes the Lord’s help and hand in the gift of her child.

Pride: The root of all sins, present in some way in all. Conquer pride, and you have conquered yourself.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to give you the immeasurably valuable gift of humility, and help you to shift your measure for all things to His view, His will, His desires, His loves, rather than your view, your will, your desires, your loves.

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Not Rocket Science

Rocket

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


Perfect morality is not the key to sanctity. When we focus on perfecting morality alone, we wind up turning everything into a moral judgement and centering on ourselves more than ever.

Basic morality is a prerequisite for sanctity. As Paul says in today’s reading, “The works of the flesh are obvious.” That is, the sins we are to avoid are not rocket science. It doesn’t take a lot of analysis or head-scratching to figure out which they are. Paul helps with a starter list, just in case.

Pride is the greatest enemy of sanctity. That said, we also don’t become saints solely or primarily by working on our humility.

We see Jesus correcting the Pharisees for their pride in today’s Gospel passage. But He doesn’t tell them to be more humble. He accuses them of lacking love for God. He also cites their lack of mercy and love of neighbor: “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

It is, of course, critical for us to avoid sin–those sins, for example, that we mentioned in our last confession. We must avoid impure thoughts and images, drunkenness, and lazy idleness. We must avoid impatience, rudeness, and anger with others.

But the key to coming out of ourselves, falling in love with God, passion for the welfare of neighbor, lies not within ourselves. God is real. He is powerful. He acts in our lives, albeit often imperceptibly. His action is the key.

The key to sanctity is to fall in love with Him and with the welfare of His people by spending time with Him in prayer and in the sacraments. By letting Him transform our hearts into His.

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