Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 20:46-47; 21:1-4 - The Lord said to his disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had." Having said this, he proclaimed, "He who has ears let him hear."
There are many opportunities each day in which we can open
our hearts to the Lord and our fellow human beings. As you walk down the street
you encounter countless people, each with an opportunity to share your heart
and love for God. Even just a pleasant smile followed by ‘good morning’ can
open another person’s heart to receive God’s love. If you choose to believe it,
many of the people you pass spend their entire day without hearing a kind word
or seeing an accepting face. When you open your heart to them, you open their
heart to God’s love.
When Christ speaks of the scribes in today’s Gospel lesson,
He is speaking of a group of people who had not opened their hearts to others.
The scribes expected OTHER people to greet them with smiles and warm welcomes.
The scribes expected OTHER people to give up their seats for them. The scribes
did not open their heart to the experience the love of God.
As you go about your day, remember the scathing review of
the scribes, and DON’T BE A SCRIBE. Don’t go through life waiting for someone
else to greet you; welcome others with a smile and ‘good morning.’ Don’t wait
for someone else to get up for you; offer them your place. But do it from your
heart with love for God and your neighbor. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.
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