Gospel

Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said:

“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets 

whom your fathers killed.

Consequently, you bear witness and give consent

to the deeds of your ancestors,

for they killed them and you do the building.

Therefore, the wisdom of God said,

‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;

some of them they will kill and persecute’

in order that this generation might be charged

with the blood of all the prophets

shed since the foundation of the world,

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah

who died between the altar and the temple building.

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!

Woe to you, scholars of the law!

You have taken away the key of knowledge.

You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”

When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees

began to act with hostility toward him

and to interrogate him about many things,

for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

Reflection

When you look at the evil there was in the system of the scribes and Pharisees, the loss of real truth, real purpose, we’re given an insight into the way in which it works in human nature, that when you live in a system that's corrupt, it will always corrupt you. It was only with the coming of Jesus that this whole system was blown apart and healed by the love of God for everyone who seeks the truth.

Closing prayer

Father, your condemnation of the religious practices of the times underscores the importance of redemption that you have to enter into any system, any process has to be based in you before it can produce the abundance of goodness that is your will. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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