All will be Revealed

Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven-that is the hypocrisy-of the Pharisees. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who will kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." 

Consideration: All are guilty of doing things that are not pleasing to God. We think that our actions will be private, and no one will ever know our faults; Jesus tells us that this is not so, and all will be revealed. He also tells us not to be afraid of those who can harm the body, but also, the one that has the power to cast us into hell. Jesus tells us not to be afraid; God the Father loves us and has created us to spend all of eternity with him in heaven. The mercy of God everlasting, we need only to ask for it with a humble and contrite heart. Amen.

Memorials of the Prophets

The Lord said: "Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the alter and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter." When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

Consideration: Jesus calls out the scholars of the law for their hypocrisy. Their ancestors were guilty of shedding the blood of prophets and Apostles, and yet they were building memorials in their honor. When Jesus departed from them, they plotted to find a way to trap him with the words he spoke. Jesus, as always, knew their cunning intentions. Amen.

"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!