Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
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.”
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my heart to take to heart your words and keep you at the center of my heart.
Encountering Christ:
- Woes: Jesus was not afraid of offering warnings. His seven woes were directed at the scribes and Pharisees of his time, but can easily serve as an examination of conscience for our days. His statements seemed very harsh as he called them out, illuminating their interior motives and misguided zeal. But for those who stand in the place of God, acting as gatekeepers to God’s holy presence, a harsh wake-up call is pedagogical. How many times in our lives do we feel that God gives us wake-up calls? Is there anything in our life that his warnings speak to?
- Stark Imagery: Jesus is clear about the consequences of the Pharisees’ misguided zeal. “You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men… you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.” What does it say about the Pharisees’ hearts? It seems that their primary goal was condemnation—far from the goal of God the Father who sent his only Son for the salvation of the world. These are very stark images that can help us revisit our interior intentions and our deepest motives for teaching, guiding, and enforcing laws.
- A Disciple’s Heart: The mission of the Pharisees is a noble one. Their task is to assure that the people of God follow a righteous path. To be righteous requires having the Lord at the center of our heart, free of the idols of pride, vanity, greed, etc. The first task of those responsible for guiding others is striving to live with their heart centered on the Lord. From there, they are empowered to reach out to others to show them the path to life.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, grant me a heart like yours, one that is centered on glorifying the Father and seeking you above all else. Grant that I may lead others closer to you by my example, prayer, and action.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will reflect on the deepest interior motives for any zealousness I discover in myself.
Jennifer Ristine is a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi dedicated to spiritual and faith formation through teaching, conferences, writing, and spiritual direction. While serving in Ancient Magdala she wrote Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala and “Nine Days with Mary Magdalene.”
