LENT SUNDAY III “B”
FIRST SCRUTINY
MARCH 14/15, 2009
Today, and the next two Sundays, we will celebrate special rites for those preparing for the sacraments of initiation—baptism, confirmation and eucharist at the Easter Vigil through which they will become full members of the Church. These rites are called “The Scrutinies.” The Rite of Christian Initiation Of Adults in describing these rites says; “The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the elect; scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way the truth, and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.”
While the elect are the principal focus of these rites, the last sentence of instruction from the rite which I just quoted applies not only to them, but to all of us. Today’s scriptures are particularly appropriate in assisting us in this Lenten process.
The scene of Jesus cleansing the Temple is familiar to us. What was it that so stirred the anger and action of Jesus? Simply this, the Temple and its rituals, the external signs of Israel’s covenant relationship with God had become, over time, corrupted. Instead of being expressions of the people’s relationship and commitment to covenant living with God, religion and its expression had become mere external window dressing, a nice show with little or no substance. Faith and its expression through religious practice had become a nice, even more expected, thing to do, but for many people had little or no impact on the daily attitudes, choices, actions or consequences of their lives. Here is where we meet today’s first reading.
Over the past few years there has been not a little controversy about public displays of the Ten Commandments. To be sure, advocates for displaying them in the public arena have been motivated by good intentions. However, good as these intentions may be, this whole situation can become problematic. The problem being that the temptation can be great to erect a monument or place a framed print of the Ten Commandments someplace and believe, one that such an act in and of itself will serve as a means of conversion in society, and secondly, like the Temple and its rituals it could become a means of actually distancing ourselves from God, the Commandments are “out there” rather than “in here.” I’m reminded of an experience I had some years ago. A parishioner at the time commented to me, “Father, you need to give sermons on the Ten Commandments. I know lots of people who need it!” I looked at him and replied, “And I presume you’re saying you don’t?”
St. Paul in today’s second reading reminds us that our life of faith is more than external buildings or signs, more than clever arguments or a collection of teachings in a book. These have their legitimate place and role as helping us to express and preserve our faith, but are not substitutes for it. Faith, St. Paul is reminding us is grounded as his was, in an encounter with Jesus and a commitment to covenant relationship to him, a relationship which colors every thought, word, choice and action of my life. When such is the case then the Ten Commandments are not cold unfeeling words carved into stone or printed on a sheet of paper; this building and its sacred rituals are not religious drama, but attitudes and habits of the heart. As we celebrate this first rite of scrutiny with our elect we join them in opening our hearts to the cleansing purifying love of Jesus so through them our mutual conversion and resolve to hold fast to Christ and our decision to love and serve God above all may be more evident in each of our lives.