Breaking the Word

They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. (Mt 23, 4) 

Leaders or common people (anyone for that matter) who tell others what to do are like the Scribes and Pharisees when they themselves do not do it.

Leadership or the authority of the leadership is not questioned. Leadership or the authority of the leadership is based on the model of Moses and comes from God and hence they are to be accepted and respected.

Jesus questions their activities and practices. Most of their activities are religion/society based and they are for a show (to be seen).

Jesus wants the activities to be person oriented or individual based. Because he says that they tie up heavy burdens but they do not lift a finger to help.

So authority and leadership are good and they are from God. Hence they should be respected and followed.

But they themselves (authority and leadership) should be person oriented. They are to help the individual. They should not hide themselves behind religion and society.

Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.  "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." (Lk 6,36-38)

The kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about an absurd generosity. He says: Think of the best think you can do for the worst of person, and go ahead and do it.

Jesus is not presenting a list of rules and regulations.  He is showing an attitude of heart that his followers should have.

We should be like this because God is like this. God is generous, merciful, forgiving, providing good things to all, etc. In fact this is not a list of things to do for a follower, in stead it presents who God is or what God is.

Jesus showed his God to be different from the other Gods. But over the years we have made Jesus’ God to be like other Gods with rules, liturgies etc.

If all believed in the God of Jesus then there would be no division, no violence, no revenge, no class, no caste, no desire for money and  property and possessions etc.

If God of Jesus was within us then there would only be persons, neighbours, friends,  forgiveness, sharing – a new world.