Authenticity

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the Scribes who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces” (Mark 12:38).

            When I was in High School, I had a classmate who wanted to be everyone’s friend. Every time he talked to you he would mention your good qualities. Yet, when he talked to an individual who disliked you, he would ridicule your faults. At first I found this person irritating because you couldn’t trust him. Later, I began to feel sorry for him because his desire to be liked by everyone stopped him from being an authentic person. It was like he was playing a role in a play instead of simply being himself.

            In this text from Mark, Jesus warns his followers about religious individuals who appear holy on the outside yet are not on the inside. By doing so, he gives them an essential lesson about being an authentic disciple.

            Scribes were scholars who transmitted and interpreted the Jewish Law. They insured the Law remained a central part of Judaism after the Babylonian Exile and as it expanded beyond the boundaries of Israel. Since these individuals acquired a wide range of knowledge, both religious and secular authorities respected them. During Christ’s lifetime, they usually associated with the Pharisees who supported a broader application of the Law in the lives of ordinary Jews and relied on their expertise for this purpose. With their specialized and useful knowledge, Scribes held an important place within Jewish society and acquired wealth, social status and influential allies. As Jesus noted, this meant they received respectful greetings in the marketplace as well as places of honour in Synagogues and at banquets. Although in the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament some Scribes were role models of piety, like Eleazar who chose death rather than idolatry, the example provided by many of their successors appeared hypocritical. Their knowledge of the Law became a means of advancement for themselves rather than God or the people they taught. Their conduct was a sharp contrast to the widow who donated a small amount to the Temple treasury. The inner motivations of the Scribes revealed by their actions indicated their outward expressions of piety were inauthentic: they played a role and were not themselves. In contrast, the widow was herself, a poor and powerless individual, when she placed all she had in the treasury.

            This Covid 19 Pandemic has certainly been a test of authenticity for many people. Some individuals who say in public how important it is to follow the Public Health Guidelines to stop the spread of the virus then violate them in private. Other people who pride themselves on being for law and order disobey the regulations because they infringe on their freedom. There are also individuals who talk about how Personal Support Workers are essential to look after the elderly in Long Term Care Homes during this pandemic but oppose efforts to pay them a decent wage. Catholics and other people of faith understand the challenges of being an authentic person. The beliefs they profess call them to live in a certain way. Yet, they continually fail to do so. At times they are tempted to play the role of a disciple: pray daily, do acts of charity and go to Church on Sunday, without becoming one themselves. The charge laid against them of being inauthentic or hypocritical by others is sadly often true. However, our faith challenges us to take a hard look at ourselves regularly. For Catholics, the Examination of Conscience is usually a good tool for this purpose. We remember we are like the widow in today’s Gospel: poor and powerless. We can do nothing on our own and so depend upon God for everything. We cannot change a lot in the world around us; but we can change ourselves. We can abandon the role we have been playing and start being ourselves. When we do so, we will discover our authentic self is far more likeable than any character we played in the past and a more credible witness to our faith.

            Since High School I have met many individuals who remind me of my classmate. I wish I could get them to realize they don’t need to play a role in life: they were created in the image and likeness of God. They are fine just the way God made them: their authentic self.

November 7, 2021