DAYLIGHT - DAILY MEN OF LIGHT REFLECTION August 25, 2014 / Monday Gospel: Matthew 23:13-22 Sharer: Marino J. Dasmarinas ---------------- Jesus said to the crowds and to his 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 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 altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; 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.” + + + + + + Reflection: Do we allow our faith to transform us the way Jesus wants it? For example the teaching of Jesus on how many times we must forgive (Matthew 18:21). Do we follow this teaching that says that we must always be forgiving or do we put limitations and conditions before we forgive? Or we appear to forgive but deep in our hearts we still keep this deep seated hatred toward others? Jesus in our gospel condemns in strongest terms the scribes and Pharisees because they teach but they themselves don’t follow what they teach. They do mission to convert people to their faith. But when they are already converted they condition and indoctrinate their minds for them to follow whatever they say even if it is already against the morals of God and society. By doing so the followers don’t anymore follow the teachings of God but the self-created teachings of their leaders. What Jesus wants for us is to lead by example; we mean what we say and do what we say. We must not only put lip service to what we say and profess. For example if we say we follow Jesus it is incumbent upon us to be humble, to be forgiving and not to be judgmental. To always lead others to the teachings of Jesus and not to manipulate them by using Jesus. Do we truly follow Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 23:38:08 +0000
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