You Hypocrites

Jesus said to the crowds and to the disciples: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens to you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'if one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, 'if one swears by the alter, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the alter, one is obligated.' You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the alter that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it." 

Consideration: No person on earth called out hypocrisy like Jesus did. This is one of the main reasons that falsehoods are allowed to simmer; and, in time, burst into flames to cause much damage.

Lord, Jesus, we praise you and give you thanks for teaching us that we must call out unrighteousness, lies, and falsehoods of all kinds, immediately, and with conviction, before it has time to cause untold damage and corruption. We pray for the courage to follow your lead always no matter how difficult it is. Amen.

To Him Be Glory Forever

Oh, the depth of riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his Judgements and unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid? From him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Consideration: Who is like God? Take a deep breath; and place yourself in His presence. The heavens; the earth, the cosmos; humanity; wisdom; life; love; mercy...Who is like God!!!

The Chair of Moses

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things they whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on the people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whosoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Consideration: Jesus is very clear to his disciples regarding the pride and hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He tells his disciples that they are brothers, and he, the Christ, is their master. He tells them to stay humble, and to serve others with sincerity, without seeking praise for their actions.

These guidelines apply to us today; serve others with kindness, compassion, and love. In doing so with humility, we continue the works of the disciples here on earth, for the glory of God. Amen.

The Greatest Commandment

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Consideration: Not only do the prophets depend on these two commandments, but all of mankind as well. We see that the world we live in is conflict with everything contained in these two commandments. If only we could find a way to exist together in peace; put aside the pride within us, and with humility, love as the Lord loves us. All things are possible for those who love God. If we loved God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we could move mountains; and certainly, we could love our neighbor and bring peace to a peaceless world. Amen.

The Gift of the Father

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does noy know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

Consideration: Jesus' prayer to the Father, describes not only his love and relationship with his disciples, but, for us as well. By our faith believing in Jesus, we believe in his Father as well; glorifying God the Father, through our love for, and relationship with the Son. Jesus tells the Father that his disciples are a gift from him; and we too are a gift from the Father as well. Blessed are we, who place our hope and trust in the Lord. Amen.

The Last First and the Fist Last

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, "You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here Idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us,' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give the last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Inherit Eternal Life

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen I say to you, it will be hard for one that is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier to for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For men this is Impossible, but for God all things are possible." Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Consideration: There are many who possess much, and yet are empty and void of peace within. The disciples, after spending much time with Jesus, came to believe in him and the truth he conveyed to all he came in contact with.

Do we possess the faith of the disciples? We live in a time where knowledge is at our fingertips; words of truth and falsehoods are heard with our ears; and we have the ability to see good and evil displayed before our eyes. We are at a crossroad in time; and it's now clear for us to choose sides. Jesus said, "I Am the Way; the Truth; and the Life." I pray that we, as one, will decide for Christ! Amen.