Gospel 

Luke 11:47-54

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

Sermon

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus confronts the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness.

Three Woes:

1. Building Memorials, Not Repenting (v. 47-48)

- Honoring past prophets, but continuing ancestral sins

- Failing to learn from history

1. Rejecting God's Messengers (v. 49-51)

- Killing prophets and apostles

- Culminating in Jesus' own crucifixion

1. Blocking Spiritual Understanding (v. 52)

- Withholding knowledge from others

- Refusing to enter into true understanding themselves

Key Points:

1. Hypocrisy blinds us to our true spiritual state.

2. Rejecting God's messengers has severe consequences.

3. Spiritual leaders must guide, not hinder, others' understanding.

Implications for Us:

- Evaluate our actions: honoring God or continuing sinful patterns?

- Recognize the danger of rejecting God's messengers.

- Seek spiritual understanding, guiding others to truth.

Conclusion:

May we avoid spiritual blindness, embracing accountability and God's wisdom.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you honor God's messengers and prophets?

2. What spiritual understanding do you need to seek?

3. How can you guide others to truth?

Action Steps:

- Reflect on spiritual blindness

- Study biblical teachings on accountability (Matthew 23:29-32, Acts 7:51-53)

- Engage in spiritual disciplines, deepening faith

- Seek accountability from fellow believers.

Key Verses:

- "You bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors." (Luke 11:48)

- "You have taken away the key of knowledge." (Luke 11:52)

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 spiritual blindness. May we seek Your wisdom, truth, and accountability. Help us honor Your messengers and prophets. May we learn from history, repenting of ancestral sins.

We pray for:

Self-reflection and recognition of spiritual blindness.

Courage to reject sinful patterns.

Wisdom to guide others to truth.

Faith to trust Your messengers.

Protection from rejecting Your prophets.

In Jesus' most holy name, Amen.

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

May these prayers guide you in avoiding spiritual blindness, embracing accountability and God's wisdom.

+ 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