Condemned For Doing Good Deeds

Gospel Reading (Jesus is condemned for doing good deeds)

Some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel”. (But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons”).

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and He cured every sickness and disease. When He saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest”. (Matthew 9: 32 – 38)

My Reflection

Today, the Gospel speaks of the man who was dumb because he was possessed, and of how his healing provoked different reactions between the crowd and the Pharisees who, in the face of prodigious evidence, nobody could deny, they attributed it to devilish powers “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons” (Mt 9:34). Instead, the crowd marvels: “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel” (Mt 9:33). When referring to this passage St. John Chrysostom, says: “What the Pharisees truly resented was the crowds were considering Jesus superior, not only to those existing then, but to all that had ever existed”. He also wrote: “People who stop doing good because of accusations, show that their good deeds have been done to impress others. But if for God’s sake you do good to your fellow-servants, you will not stop doing good whatever they do.” Doing things to impress others used to be called ‘human respect’. It was badly named, because there is no real respect involved at all, neither for oneself nor for others.

In Catholic spirituality many things were named in very misleading ways because they were only half translated from Latin or Italian. The word ‘respect’ comes from ‘respicere’, which means ‘too look back’. In this context it means checking to see how your performance is going down with the audience. A better translation today might be ‘seeking to impress’ or ‘seeking celebrity’. It’s clear on every page of the gospels that Jesus was entirely free of it.

Therefore the Pharisees’ critical remarks did not worry Jesus in the least; He faithfully went on with his mission. The Chief Priests, Pharisees and leaders not only before Jesus but at that time too, those Israel guides, instead of looking after their flock and shepherding it, what they did was to mislay it. Jesus felt sorry for those tired and depressed crowds without a true shepherd to look after them.

Crowds are grateful for a good leadership and yearn for it. When we look at the pastoral visits of Blessed John Paul II to the different places in the world, how he was appreciated . How he managed to gather immense crowds around him! How they listened to him, particularly our youth! The Pope did not make discounts, for he preached the Gospel with all its requirements. I will close with the some words from St. Francis of Assisi. St Francis had so many wise words – two phrases to consider today:

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Unless our lives are lived constantly doing good deeds

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words”

Have a Blessed Day