Jesus denounces the Scribes and Pharisees

In today’s gospel reading, our lord Jesus Christ denounces the Scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. You can read it in Matt.23:1-12.

“1 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and Pharisees have taken the on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen.

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi”. 8 As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but on Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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No one ever said that Christianity, as really taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, was an easy religion to practice. This is why today; there are so many people who claim themselves as Christians or Catholics; but that’s only in name, for they neither practice nor even know their faith. For instance, in today’s controversial debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, there are even those who claim themselves as “Catholics for RH” yet their cause is diametrically opposed to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Worse of all, there are even bishops or priests who secretly support the RH bill, using some kind of complicated language and then twisting it to justify their own personal beliefs, which is not in line with the Catholic teaching. Indeed, inside the Catholic Church today there is an apostasy amongst the clergy and this was prophesied by our Blessed Virgin Mary during her numerous apparitions in Fatima and Rue de Bac.

In the first reading today, which is taken from Mal.1:14b it reads, “A great King am I, says the Lord of Hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you; If you do not listen, and if you do not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing, I will make a curse.

You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; you have made void the covenant of Levi says the Lord of Hosts. I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions. Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?”

This was addressed by our Lord Jesus Christ to the Scribes and Pharisees of His time. But 2,000 years later, these people have not really disappeared. They merely mutated into the priests and bishops of today who enjoy the salutations of their parishioners, seats of honor in weddings or banquets, yet they fail in saving the souls of their penitents. In short, they are the keepers of the Master’s vineyard, but they do not bear any fruit.

So many rich people who have close friends in the clergy that allow themselves to be used … putting up grottos or even places of worship for the faithful, but those who build them do not practice what they preach. If you want to know who they are, just look around you for your eyes do not deceive, especially when you speak of love for those who have less in life.

I was in France last weekend, specifically to Lourdes where our Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette, then to Paris on a small street called Rue de Bac where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared before St. Catherine Laboure inside their obscure chapel to become the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal which is represented by the Asilo de la Milagros here. Not far from this sacred place is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Yet this church has become more of a tourist spot because of its rich history, rather than a place of worship and conversion, even though it is still an active church.

But Catholicism continues to grow quietly in France because the Catholic Church has not changed in the last 2,000 years. If at all, it is no longer as opulent as it was during medieval times or the days of the Renaissance period because finally it has taken to heart what our Lord Jesus Christ has preached so many times which he repeats again in today’s gospel The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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