"One for the Money, Two for the Show..."

“You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.”

Luke 11:43-44 

I have been thinking again.  I admit it, I enjoy having a good think, and sometimes it leads me to places where toes get stepped on.  This time was no exception.  It is not my intent to cause hard feelings and I am not pointing fingers at anyone.  I simply want to share what has been brought to mind.

The Pharisees didn't like Jesus.  And, to be honest, Jesus didn't appear to be a big fan of the Pharisees either.  Jesus knew that the Pharisees were corrupt.  They had taken Judaism and turned it into a money making and political enterprise.  

The Pharisees took great pride in:

   * their position, 

   * the people they rubbed elbows with, 

   * the political clout they had,

   * the possessions they accumulated

   * their finery and accoutrements

   * their influence over their flocks

   * their education

The Pharisees were very quick (and proud) to let people know just how pious and "holy" they were, and how much better they were than regular folk.  

While attending a graduation at the Criminal Justice Academy this Friday past, the guest speaker stated that on the list of "Most Trusted Professions" Law Enforcement was still in the top ten.  Then he said something that smacked me right between the eyes: "But even though we're not at the top, we still outranked the clergy."  WOW!  That speaks volumes to me!

I began to look around at my fellow clergy and, I will admit, was ashamed!  We have people claiming to be the reflection of Jesus who are just like the Pharisees!  They love their finery.  They love their expensive homes and cars and possessions.  They love their money.

When I read the Gospels, I see that Jesus walked everywhere except when He rode the donkey into Jerusalem at the end.  Jesus even told His Disciples, in Luke 10:3-6: "Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves. Do not carry a money bag, a traveler’s bag, or sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house!’ And if a peace-loving person is there, your peace will remain on him, but if not, it will return to you."

And in Luke 12:34, Jesus said: "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

My prayer is that our clergy will work to become trustworthy again instead of being self-serving and political.  We have been called to follow the example of Christ, who went to the people who needed Him most, talked to them in ways they could understand, and loved them.