25 August 2021 - ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS

#JesusDenouncesScribesAndPharisees #Pride #Hypocrisy #WeMustBeTheChangeWeWantTheWorldToBe TOPIC: WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS TO CHANGE? First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12AB Alleluia: 1 John 2:5 Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32 Today’s gospel reading follows through on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, as Jesus describes the last two of the seven woes against pharisaism. Jesus compares them to “whited sepulchres.” The Palestinians cleaned the tomb of rotting bodies and painted them white for they believed that a person who accidentally stepped on a grave became ritually unclean. Whitewashing would make the tomb visible, especially at night. In the same vein, the Pharisees thump their chests over the tombs they have created for the prophets before them. They say that if they lived in the time of their ancestors, they would never have persecuted these holy men. Yet, they were preparing to persecute and exterminate Jesus. We reflect today on the areas of our life consumed by pride. This is the 505th installment of our CFC quarantine contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on   / cfchrist   and Bong Arjonillo’s Facebook page and on You Tube. Just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS]