Daily Word Of God
Matthew 23:13-15
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut up the kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to. These are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and anyone who becomes one you make twice as fit for hell as you are.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, Jesus reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees for being hypocrites. Yet, we know that Jesus is always most compassionate to sinners whether they are public or private sinners.
- All people in position of authority, especially priests and religious have a greater responsibility to use their office and vocation to draw people closer to God, particularly through their daily witness of the Gospel of Christ.
- Today, let us pray for all people in position of authority – civil, private and Church leaders; that they may always serve the good, peace and justice of all.