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Theo Tigno
8/23/2004 11:28 am

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Monday, August 23rd 2004
Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.' You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it."

Dawg's thought:

Today's prayer intention is for those who suffer from depression.

"The phrase woe to occurs often in the prophetic and apocalyptic literature, expressing horror of a sin and punishment for those who commit it. The hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees consists in the difference between their speech and action..." - New American Bible commentary

All Christians are not exempt from the woes of today's reading. In fact, we are held even more accountable because of the gift that has been entrusted to us through our faith.

It's amazing how I can look at my own life and see that, although I feel like I am good and faithful in following Our Lord, I am also guilty of the same hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus calls out today. I have been guilty of judging others, demeaning their dignity and vocation to holiness through my own preconceived notions. I have been guilty of talking about the call to conversion everyday in these readings, and not seeking conversion in my own life.

Christ's words in today's reading are not words that are lost in hopelessness. In fact, Christ's words today are a call to freedom in Him. It is a hope in Christ that although He sees how sinful we are, He knows that His words challenge us to be holy. Christ did not come to condemn, but to save. He came to show each of us mercy, and through His mercy, we are saved from our sins.

Today, know that our ways are not His ways. Come to know the horror of your sinfulness. Come and know the beauty of His mercy. Take care and God Bless.
 

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