Teachings about scribes and charity!

Today's Gospel reading, teaches us how our Lord Jesus Christ despised the hypocritical scribes and what it takes to be charitable. You will find this passage on Mark 12:38-44.

"In the course of his teaching [Jesus] said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplace, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

I'm sure you're all curious as to who are these scribes so we can distinguish them from the Pharisees? To borrow the definition from the Easton 1897 Bible Dictionary, which I got from the Internet, "The scribes acted as secretaries of state, whose business it was to prepare and issue decrees in the name of the king (2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25; 1 Chr. 18:16; 24:6; 1 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 12:9-11; 18:18-37, etc.). They discharged various other important public duties as men of high authority and influence in the affairs of state.

There was also a subordinate class of scribes, most of whom were Levites. They were engaged in various ways as writers. Such, for example, was Baruch, who "wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord" (Jer. 36:4, 32). In later times, after the Captivity, when the nation lost its independence, the scribes turned their attention to the law, gaining for themselves distinction by their intimate acquaintance with its contents. On them devolved the duty of multiplying copies of the law and of teaching it to others (Ezra 7:6, 10-12; Neh. 8:1, 4, 9, 13).

It is evident that in New Testament times the scribes belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, who supplemented the ancient written law by their traditions (Matt. 23), thereby obscuring it and rendering it of none effect. The titles "scribes" and "lawyers" (q.v.) are in the Gospels interchangeable (Matt. 22:35; Mark 12:28; Luke 20:39, etc.). They were in the time of our Lord the public teachers of the people, and frequently came into collision with him.

They afterwards showed themselves greatly hostile to the apostles (Acts 4:5; 6:12). Some of the scribes, however, were men of a different spirit, and showed themselves friendly to the gospel and its preachers. Thus Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin, when the apostles were before them charged with "teaching in this name," to "refrain from these men and let them alone" (Acts 5:34-39; comp. 23:9)."

Now that we know who the scribes are, I'm sure that you will have a better understanding of why our Lord Jesus Christ denounced the scribes and Pharisees in so many occasions. While the scribes belonged to a bygone era 2,000 years ago... I would like to believe that many of their kind continue to exist today, mostly in the form of bad Bishops, Priests and Pastors who enjoy popularity within their flock. They interpret the Word of God on their own way, enjoy places of honor in banquets, seats of honor in churches and often prey on innocent or unsuspecting widows. Like Jesus, we must also denounce their wrong practices by praying for them to change their ways.

Jesus also teaches us about charity. When can we say that we have given to charity? When the old lady holding the collection box comes to us, what you we do? Search our pockets for coins to get rid of them? No sir, that isn't charity... you are merely cleaning your pockets! Be wary also that if and when you decided to give a P500 peso bill... that you do not wave the money for all to see before you drop them into the box. That too isn't charity, it is showing off! To be safe, just make sure that you clasp your money within your hands so no one can see what you just gave.

Jesus story of the widow giving away her last two copper coins is a story of Trust in the Lord. The widow in our Lord's story practically gave all the money she had with her because of her strong faith that God would provide for her needs. After all, the meaning of charity is love and "Deus Caritas Est" or "God is Love" is the title of the 1st Papal Encyclical of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, which came out December last year.

Yes, if we have faith God by offering or surrendering our material things to God, our Lord Jesus teaches us that God the Father will answer our prayers. Please read Luke 11-13, "What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he ask for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? Have a happy charitable Sunday.

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