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GOSPEL POWER | AUGUST 23, 2021 - MONDAY
GOSPEL POWER | AUGUST 23, 2021 - Monday - 21st Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 149 – The Lord takes delight in his people.
Gospel: Mt 23:13-22
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.”
Reflection:
The essence of the law is love, for it has been given to Israel so that the nation might grow in love and be able to live as faithful covenant-partner to God. The scribes and Pharisees, the reputed law-experts, ought, by their interpretation, to put people in touch with the essence of the law. However, their interpretation focused on the less essential aspects of the law and was tailored to their own convenience and advantage. By uttering “woes,” Jesus expresses both indignation and sadness over these religious leaders’ negligence of duty. In effect, they prevent people from having access to the heart of the law, which is love, thereby obstructing the fulfillment of the Lawgiver’s purpose.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, deliver us from the pitfalls of hypocrisy and negligence of duty. Amen.
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By Daughters of St. Paul | Phil-Malaysia- PNG-Thai Province
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GOSPEL POWER | AUGUST 23, 2021 - Monday - 21st Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 149 – The Lord takes delight in his people.
Gospel: Mt 23:13-22
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.”
Reflection:
The essence of the law is love, for it has been given to Israel so that the nation might grow in love and be able to live as faithful covenant-partner to God. The scribes and Pharisees, the reputed law-experts, ought, by their interpretation, to put people in touch with the essence of the law. However, their interpretation focused on the less essential aspects of the law and was tailored to their own convenience and advantage. By uttering “woes,” Jesus expresses both indignation and sadness over these religious leaders’ negligence of duty. In effect, they prevent people from having access to the heart of the law, which is love, thereby obstructing the fulfillment of the Lawgiver’s purpose.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, deliver us from the pitfalls of hypocrisy and negligence of duty. Amen.