Jesus’s harsh criticism of the religious leaders of his day is a wakeup call for us!
They thought that religion was there to serve them. They used their power to get what they wanted and to puff themselves up.
In other words, they were self-absorbed.
I’m sure many of you can tell horror stories of similar things happening in churches today. People demand to have the music that they like. They demand the language they want to hear. They demand that they are heard and that things go the way they want it.
However, being a Christian means servant-leadership. It means extending mercy to others instead of making them sacrifice for your needs.
Like Christ dying on the cross, we are called to give of ourselves for others and their needs. This may mean setting our own pride and ego aside for the good of the community.
The question should never be, “What do I want?” But, instead, it should be, “What does my neighbor need? What will make them feel loved?”
The Reading
But alas for you, the Pharisees, because you make the tithe of the mint and the rue and every herb, and neglect God’s judgment and love; but these it was necessary to practice, without neglecting those things also. Alas for you, the Pharisees, because you love the chief seat in the synagogues and the salutations in the marketplaces. Alas for you, for you are like unseen graves, and the people walking over them do not know it.” And in reply one of the lawyers says to him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Alas also for you, the lawyers, because you burden men with unbearable burdens, while you yourselves do not lay a single one of your fingers upon those burdens. (Luke 11:42-46)