There was a book a few years ago, Jesus, the Pharisee, that pointed out that both Jesus and the Pharisees were trying to help ordinary people live God’s commands in their daily lives. Their differences can be summarized as minimalism versus maximalism. The Pharisees minimalist approach — what’s the least I have to do to stay within the law — is similar to a big issue when I was growing up: how much of the Mass could you miss and still have it “count.” If I made it by the reading of the gospel and left after Communion would that suffice? Jesus on the other hand had a maximalist approach.How can I find God in the stuff of daily life and live out God’s compassion and love.
