Reflection on Today’s Gospel – Lk 11:42-46
Of course, the Lord Jesus is not an anarchist and does not criticize the leadership. He criticizes the morbid, self-centered attitude that often accompanies our striving for a higher place in society and that poisons our social life.
In each of us there should be a desire not only to satisfy our own needs, but also to be socially useful. So, there is something very wrong if one is pursuing a position or a higher place in society at all for mostly selfish reasons - to be important, to satisfy vanity, to ensure comfort or other benefits. The Lord Jesus taught very clearly on this subject: " Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave" (cf. Mt 20:26-27). I am not a reliable Christian if there is no desire in me to make a real contribution to the social good. Regardless of whether I am at the top, in the middle, or at the bottom in the social hierarchy.
Placing a burden beyond strength is also teaching about God's commandments that we do not show those who are taught that the commandments are the word of God's love for us: that God only gives us His commandments because He loves us, because He cares about our good. Well, as soon as we see this truth about God's commandments, various prejudices against them will disappear in us. Living according to God's commandments will become our joy - also in those moments when God's commandments demand something difficult from us.
A few more thoughts for today's considerations
1. We are often like scholars who react to Jesus' attacks to the Pharisees, " Are you sure you don't mean us too?" Then He addresses them and lists them, as religious leaders and their sins. Pharisees want to appear pious and be respected for their religiosity, devoid of understanding the very spiritual essence of religion. Likewise, the scholars of the law place ritualistic religious burdens on people without trying to alleviate people in favor of true spirituality. Sometimes we do the same in the Church. Don't we sometimes say to Jesus, are you sometimes not saying to us, my Lord: Woe also to you scholars of the law and “Good Catholics”? Unfortunately, sometimes He dos!
2. In fact, man does not need anything that does not make him grow in Love, or at least favors this growth. Even religion, faith ... Who needs faith in God and religious practices if he does not learn Love? Heaven is not a retirement for the deserving. It is a new life waiting for EVERYONE, but the shape of this new life is Love. That is why Jesus urges us not to accumulate merit, but to learn Love. It is a difficult learning and a complicated skill, so we have to hurry, we need to learn urgently. With the best Master - Jesus.
3. The words of today's Gospel show that Jesus is anti-religious. Yes! Anti-religious! For religiousness, strictly speaking, means making various sacrifices and practicing long prayers to win God's favor. Meanwhile, we do not have to strive for God's favor. We have it guaranteed for free. We should focus on shaping our own heart well, which will result in good behavior - authentic Love.
Then, is religious practice necessary? Absolutely yes! However, their purpose is to shape the heart, not to win God's favor. Even our daily requests for prosperity and God's protection are mainly aimed for changing our hearts for the better.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george