Reflections on Scripture | Wednesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said,
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!"

Reflection

The frightening thing about this criticism of the Pharisees is the description that He says that who they are, they look great on the outside, but to say inside they're filled with death, every kind of filth. And that accusation is because of one single serious sin they keep recurringly go back to, and that is, they will not tell the truth.

They will not and have not interpreted the words of the prophet, which is wisdom. So you can see why now, maybe more than ever, why the anger of Jesus was so intense. They had turned their father's house into a den of thieves.

Closing Prayer

Father, we often criticize those who are doing the same thing that we're doing. We often see the evil in others and want so badly for it to be destroyed there and not to do the work of releasing ourselves from that very evil. Give us wisdom in our criticism and our judgments. Help us to see the truth. Without it, we cannot establish your kingdom. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross