"Woe to you Pharisees!"

The Lord said, "Woe to you Pharisees! You pay Tithes of mint and rue and of every garden herb, and you pay no attention to judgement and to love of 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 the people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."

Consideration: Jesus once again speaks clearly and profoundly about hypocrisy. This was true when Jesus walked the earth, and it is still true today. How many leaders speak to the people about what they should do and how to conduct their lives, but they fail to follow their own directives themselves. Let us pray for those who have positions of authority and power to rule and guide knowing that what they do is done by the grace of God. Amen.

Plunder and Evil

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you."

Consideration: Jesus tells the Pharisees that it not only important that the outside is cleansed but also that the inside of our inner being is cleansed from all unrighteousness and impurities as well. Amen.

This is an Evil Generation

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the Judgement the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation, and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgement the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here."

Consideration: This generation will have no excuse at the judgement to claim that they did not hear the words of Jesus. No other generation has had the opportunity to hear and contemplate the validity of them to reform their lives. Jesus said, "This generation is an evil generation," ...  was he also speaking about this generation? It is very possible that he was. Amen.

Bad and Good Alike

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, "Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast." Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, "The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests."

Consideration: The invitation has been sent out by the servants of the King. All have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. The finest of all food and drink have been prepared and are waiting for the guests to arrive. Many of the summoned guests refused the invitation, others ignored it and went about their lives. So the King sent his servants into the streets where both the bad and good alike live their lives. The invited guest prepared themselves for this awesome event. Together, they entered the banquet and were filled with the Masters peace and joy. We too have been invited; we must prepare ourselves for the day that we are summoned. Amen.

Freed!

 

Emotions running high day and night 

Mind twisting though a must win fight

A lifelong battle raging highs and lows

Taking a toll on a battered weary soul

Time reveals the hidden and unseen

Faith is the key within to be set free 

Caught up in a web of division tearing us apart

In need of answers branded deep in the heart

Time to gather my senses; live truth inside of me

Cast aside my defenses; allow love to set me free

Emotions running high day and night 

Mind twisting though a must win fight

A lifelong battle raging highs and lows

Taking a toll on a battered weary soul

Faith takes time to play out so believe

Faith is the love of living out the dream

I search my soul for answers with fire in my heart

Away from all of life's romancers keeping us apart

I search my soul for truth; I was blind now I see

Emotions fade away and all the highs and lows flee

Faith takes time to play out; believe; live the dream; freed!

The Word of God

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied," He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

Consideration: Jesus responds to the woman who called out to him while he was speaking. What he said to her should knock us all to our knees. He immediately redirects the focus away from him and gives God the Father the glory. Blessed are those who hear the word of God; living out the truth that is alive in them and observes the power that they bring to our daily lives. Amen.

The Spirit Through Faith

Brothers and sisters: Realize it is those who have faith that are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham saying, Through you shall all the nations be blessed. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in all things written in the book of the law. And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for the one who is righteous by faith will live. But the law does not depend on faith; rather, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessings of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Consideration: Saint Paul's words speak to us about faith. Faith is a word that Jesus said that could move mountains. Are we as children of God willing to risk all by living our lives according to the teachings of Christ Jesus? Be not afraid; and let us move forward in truth; with the faith that will move mountains. Amen.