Gospel 

Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you!You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Sermon

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scholars of the law, exposing their hypocrisy and neglect of God's true priorities.

Three Woes:

1. Neglecting Judgment and Love (v. 42)

- Focus on minor rules, ignoring essential commandments

- Prioritize rituals over relationship with God

1. Seeking Human Honor (v. 43)

- Desire recognition and prestige

- Forget humility and servant-leadership

1. Spiritual Blindness (v. 44)

- Unaware of their own spiritual state

- Harm others through hypocrisy

Scholars' Response and Jesus' Rebuke (v. 45-46)

- Defensiveness and denial

- Jesus emphasizes their responsibility to lead, not burden others

Key Points:

1. Hypocrisy blinds us to our true spiritual state.

2. Neglecting God's love and justice has consequences.

3. Leaders must model humility and servant-leadership.

Implications for Us:

- Evaluate our priorities: rituals or relationship with God?

- Recognize the danger of seeking human recognition

- Lead with humility and serve others

Conclusion:

May we avoid hypocrisy and neglect, embracing God's love and justice.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are your priorities in faith?

2. How do you demonstrate humility and servant-leadership?

3. What spiritual blindness needs to be addressed?

Action Steps:

- Reflect on priorities

- Practice humility and servant-leadership

- Evaluate leadership roles and responsibilities

- Seek spiritual guidance.

Prayer

Let us pray: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty, merciful, and loving God, expose our hypocrisy and neglect. May we seek Your love, justice, and humility. Help us prioritize our relationship with You. May our leadership be marked by servant-leadership.

We pray for:

Self-reflection and awareness of spiritual blindness.

Freedom from seeking human recognition.

Courage to prioritize love and justice.

Wisdom to lead with humility, Faith to trust Your guidance.

In Jesus' most holy name, Amen.

"Give me, O Lord, the knowledge of what I should know"

May these prayers guide you in avoiding hypocrisy and neglect, embracing God's love and justice.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJ