The gospels speak to us in today's world

November 12, 2006 -- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Fr. Michael Stubbs

	Fr. Mike Stubbs

As you watch the priest read the gospel this Sunday, see if he doesn't squirm a little. Jesus harshly criticizes a group of religious leaders known as the scribes. They "like to parade around in their robes, accept marks of respect in public and recite long prayers." Perhaps the priest sees some of himself in this description.

In Mark's gospel, Jesus often engages in debate with the scribes. They are frequently mentioned along with the Pharisees because most of them belonged to that religious political party.

As their name suggests, the scribes copied books by hand, above all, books of the Bible. Because of their familiarity with the Bible, the scribes earned a reputation as religious experts, so much that they rivaled the priests.

True, the priests were the ones who offered the sacrifices in the Temple at Jerusalem. They played a crucial role in these ceremonies. On the other hand, the scribes preached to the people and told them how to live according to the Law. They were more closely involved in people's daily lives.

Once the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., the priests no longer could offer sacrifice. Their importance virtually disappeared in favor of the scribes, who emerged as the leaders of the Jews. The offering of sacrifice gave way to the observance of the Law as the center of Jewish life.

This was true except for those Jews who followed Jesus. A gulf developed between them and the scribes, which led to the separation of Christianity from Judaism.

This separation was taking place when Mark was writing. His gospel reflects the hostility between his community and the scribes.

In Mark's gospel, the scribes and the Pharisees became representatives of all religious leaders among the Jews. This is ironic, since the scribes and the Pharisees bitterly opposed the Sadducees, who were, for the most part, members of the priesthood. The Pharisees were popular among the common people, while the Sadducees catered to the rich and hobnobbed with the Romans. Because of their association with the ruling powers, the Sadducees probably bore more responsibility than the scribes and the Pharisees for Jesus' death.

What does this ancient history mean for us now?

It is important for Jewish-Christian relations. The scribes of Jesus' time were also known as the rabbis. Modern Judaism descends from them and from the Pharisees, whom the gospels present so unfavorably.

By an overly-literal reading, Christians have sometimes relived ancient quarrels and translated them into the present day. They have mistaken the early church's hostility as the hostility of Jesus himself. The result too often has been anti-Semitism.

By learning some of the history surrounding the gospels, we can avoid superficial interpretations that lead to tragic misunderstandings. We can arrive at the deeper meaning of Jesus' words. We will discover that they are speaking to us personally, not to someone 2,000 years ago. Jesus is warning us against making a show of religion, and above all, against taking advantage of others.

We are, potentially, the "scribes" to be avoided.

(Fr. Stubbs, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, has a master's degree in theology from Harvard.)