Breaking the Word

28^th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 13^th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 11,47-54

Key of God’s knowledge

Jesus accuses the Pharisees of “taking away the key of knowledge”. It is a key that unlocks the meaning of the Scripture, brings men to the knowledge of God and grants entrance into His Kingdom. Jesus not only blamed them for not attaining any wisdom, but of their teaching that prevented others from knowing the truth. As experts of the law, the Pharisees were holding the right to the interpretation of the Scriptures. Due to this, they closed their minds to God’s word and replaced it with their own ideas. Instead of enlightening the people with the Scripture, they kept its knowledge locked in strict regulations and obscurities. Although the wisdom of God was in their midst, yet they could not perceive Jesus as their Lord. He taught them that the knowledge of Scripture and entrance to the kingdom are interconnected. But they sought to destroy him rather than to embrace his teaching and example. By rejecting him, who is the “door” to all wisdom and knowledge of God, the Pharisees closed themselves and to the work of God that transforms all men. In this way, they remained as a hindrance to the flow of God’s knowledge and of gaining His kingdom.

28^th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 12^th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 11,42-46

Shunning God-Given Privileges

Jesus criticizes with four woes the lifestyle of the Pharisees and scholars of the law who think only of themselves and their own importance. The first continues the contrast between the inner and outer, but also adds the contrast between the important and insignificant. Jesus criticizes piety that observes external obedience while neglecting justice and the love of God. In the second Jesus emphasizes that true piety does not seek praise from others. In the third, Jesus returns to the contrast between the inner and outer. Inner corruption of the Pharisees is not visible. They are like graves that are hidden inside and consequently result in defiling others by contact with them. Fourth is addressed to the lawyers. Jesus is condemning them for imposing legal restrictions on people but doing nothing to help them. The law, which was meant to be a pointer and help, has been made into a burden and an end in itself. The Pharisees and the scribes had turned their ambition inward by performing godly acts to attain honour for themselves instead of guiding God’s people in justice and love of God. Jesus condemns them for turning God-given privileges and great responsibility for their own personal benefits.