Ord.Wk 21st: Monday 28th August, 2023 August 28, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
Hypocritical Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus exposed the evil ways in which the scribes and Pharisees live their faith. Their hypocrisy had destroyed the faith and lives of many people. Ponder on: Are we aware of the heavy responsibilities that come from God’s abundant blessings of our faith? We are to lead others to God’sTruth, Mercy and Love.
Matthew 23:13-15
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut up the kingdom of Heaven in people's faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to. These are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and anyone who becomes one you make twice as fit for hell as you are.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Jesus reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites because instead of being religious leaders, leading people towards living a more devout life, they were leading their followers away from God.
- As Christians, we too have to ask ourselves honestly whether we have been leading others astray?
- Which areas of my life or my attitudes and behaviours would God likely to challenge me to be more authentic in my Christian living?