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Then,
within the hearing of all the people, he said to
his disciples, “Be on guard against the scribes, who like to go
around in long
robes and love greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues,
and
places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and,
as a
pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe
condemnation.”
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Tony
Stark, better known as the future "Iron Man" was a child prodigy and
used his technological genius to create weapons for the military.
As a result, he was a rich man, and being very
self-centered, he became a playboy, a person who enjoyed
his wealth and his fame. As he was showing off his latest super-missile
system, however, he was captured by terrorists who kept him alive by
keeping fragments away from his heart by means of a powerful magnet. In
return, Tony was forced to build a missile system for the terrorists,
and
if he refused, they would let him die. As Tony realized what had
happened to him, and what his weaponry had caused, he began to
understand something about his life and what he had done. Managing to
outsmart the terrorists, he escaped after inventing the rudiments of
the Iron Man technology, but he was resolved to close down his weapons
manufacturing division and work for peace.
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There
may be a
question whether the scribes in Jesus’ day
really understood that they were wrong. But, as one studies
the facts,
when they hurt people like widows, they had to understand that it
was not right. And rather than admit it, they pretended to be
people of
prayer. They did not want to admit any mistake on their parts, so
they
acted as if there were none, and instead portrayed an outward piety.
There is a
trait in human nature that dislikes admitting mistakes. In fact,
many
times people would much rather cover up their mistakes than admit them.
In the beginning of the movie "Iron Man," Tony Stark realized that he had made a mistake. He witnessed the destruction of innocent people, and saw that it was the result of the weaponry that he had invented. Once he understood, he knew that he had to make some changes. The moment that he realized that he was responsible was the turning point for him. Up until that moment he could hide from what he had done, but after that understanding, he knew that he had to change. Jesus wanted such a moment for the religious leaders of his time. It only occurred for a couple of them. He desires the same thing for any follower of his. We must understand that we tend to blame other people for our problems, that we explain away our mistakes to be circumstances that cannot be helped even though they can, that we have the tendency to hide the wrong we have done. A person who uses Jesus as a guide will see the need for a moment of conversion. The spoken word does not make a person holy, no matter how hard we try. Holiness is the result of conversion, the understanding that we are doing something wrong, and the desire to do something about it. |
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THOUGHT
What are the primary ways that people use to cover up a
mistake?
PRAYERGood and gracious God, we do not like to admit mistakes when
we make
them, and often as the religious leaders of your Son’s time on
earth, we try to hide them. Give us the grace of conversion, the grace
not only to recognize our mistakes, but the willingness to do
something about them. Be with
us, we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |