13 October, Tuesday — Pedants and Pharisees

Tuesday of Week 28 in Ordinary Time

Gal 5:1-6
Lk 11:37-41

But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ…

Our family is in the middle of planning a funeral.

A death in the family is one of those things that throws up all sorts of complicated emotions — who is doing too much, who is considered family, who isn’t family, who has a role to play, who does not. And all of this occurs while you are trying to deal with your grief. Pedants and Pharisees are all about rules, rigorous gate-keeping and performative virtue. They’ll do all these things to be seen; ensure right process is adhered to, to give themselves a sense of importance and visibility. We find them in all settings — at work, in church, in school, even in our families. Anywhere there’s glory to be sought. They’re like bullies, even if they don’t recognize it in themselves.

I’ve found that killing them with kindness is the only way to manage their toxic energy, without losing myself to anxiety, anger and frustration. Christ ‘turning the other cheek’ is still an act of rebellion in our day. I refuse to let you intimidate me. I don’t accept your petty rules. I choose forgiveness so that we can move forward. I choose love so our family stays together. I choose to not let you cow me with your false narratives.

Christ chose to be God’s channel, and God gave him the words to rebuke the Pharisees of his day. I too, hope and pray for the resilience, the wisdom, the courage and the wit to do the same. I choose to be God’s channel, because that is the way of grace. I choose to not let you cow me with your false narratives. And I can do all this, through Christ who lives in me.

( Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)

Prayer: I pray for the grace and wisdom to manage these modern day Pharisees, who cloak themselves in the mantle of false righteousness. I can do all this through Christ who lives in me. 

Thanksgiving: I give thanks for the Holy Spirit, who inspires in us wisdom, insight and mindfulness, even as we are grieving.