From: Luke 11:42-46
The Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees (Continuation)
(Jesus said to the Pharisees,) [42] “But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint
and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought
to have done, without neglecting the others. [43] Woe to you Pharisees! for you
love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places. [44]
Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them
without knowing it.”
[45] One of the lawyers answered Him, “Teacher, in saying this You reproach
us also.” [46] And He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with bur-
dens hard to bear and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your
fingers.”
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Commentary:
42. The Law of Moses laid down that the harvest had to be tithed (cf. Leviticus
27:30-33; Deuteronomy 12:22ff; etc.) to provide for the worship offered in the
temple. Insignificant products were not subject to this Law.
Rue is a bitter medicinal plant used by the Jews in ancient times. Did it have to
be tithed?: the Pharisees, who were so nit-picking, said that it did.
44. According to the Old Law, anyone who touched a grave became unclean for
seven days (Num 19:16), but with the passage of time a grave could become so
overgrown that a person could walk on it without noticing. Our Lord uses this
comparison to unmask the hypocrisy of these people He is talking to: they are
very exact about very small details but they forget their basic duty — justice and
the love of God (verse 42). On the outside they are clean but their hearts are full
of malice and rottenness (verse 39); they pretend to be just, appearances are all
that matters to them; they know that virtue is held in high regard, therefore they
strive to appear highly virtuous (verse 43). Duplicity and deceit mark their lives.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Red.
| First reading |
| Galatians 5:18-25 © |
| To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence |
If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.
| Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 1:1-4,6 © |
Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
Happy indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked;
nor lingers in the way of sinners
nor sits in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponders his law day and night.
Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper.
Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they like winnowed chaff
shall be driven away by the wind:
for the Lord guards the way of the just
but the way of the wicked leads to doom.
Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
| Gospel Acclamation |
cf.Ps26:11 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Instruct me, Lord, in your way;
on an even path lead me.
Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
| You overlook justice and the love of God |
The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!
A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’
‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’