Woes to Pharisees

OCTOBER 13, 2021, Wednesday
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 469

Reading I
Rom 2:1-11

You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.
For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the very same things.
We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?
By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for yourself
for the day of wrath and revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone according to his works,
eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality
through perseverance in good works,
but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.
Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and then Greek.
There is no partiality with God.

Responsorial Psalm
62:2-3, 6-7, 9

R.    (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Only in God is my soul at rest;
    from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.

R.    Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Only in God be at rest, my soul,
    for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. 

R.    Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Trust in him at all times, O my people!
    Pour out your hearts before him;
    God is our refuge!

R.    Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Alleluia
Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 11:42-46

The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.  
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

REFLECTION:

The sad fact of spiritual power, being abused and diverted so as to give status and prestige to religious leaders. We know that the core of Jesus' message is loving compassion, but his words, directed at religious hypocrites, are angry words.

Often people in authority use their position to demand conformity in detail and recognition by others of their status. This can often be at the expense of neglecting to realize that justice and proper care for others are the essential elements of service by those in authority. We are all called to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.

PRAYER:

Lord, make me aware of my needless preoccupations and infuse my heart with your spirit of love and justice. Take my poor heart and make it like your own.