Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 11:42-46
October 12, 2022 | Wednesday
A curse is on you, Pharisees! To the temple you give a tenth of all, including mint and rue and other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other obligations. A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you, for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don’t notice them, and make themselves unclean by stepping on them.” Then a teacher of the law spoke up and said, “Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too.” And Jesus answered, “A curse is on you also, teachers of the law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves do not move a finger to help them.
Today’s Reflection:
Four of the six “woes” of Luke are highlighted in our gospel reading. These “woes” are put within the story of a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine with him (v. 37). The former was astonished to see that Jesus did not bother to wash his hands before eating (v.39). Jesus reacted to the way the Pharisee and his cohorts strictly observed the law. He exhorted them that yes, they might be religiously following every detail of the law, and yet have forgotten the real meaning of following the law. For instance, in v. 42, Jesus pinpoints to them how they neglect justice and love when trying to impress God with their “over-generous tithing of mint and rue and herbs. Verse 43 speaks of their disordered desire to be respected and be prominent which goes against God’s desire for them to be humble. Jesus criticized their outward actions and associated them to a grave (v. 44). His exhortation is a call to his followers the dangerous influence of the Pharisees. /Vulnerasti, 2022
