Pope Francis, in a recent homily, expressed similar rage:

“Hypocrisy is the language of the devil;

it is the language of evil that enters our heart and is sown by the devil... 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 1:1-10

 Paul, an apostle

Of Christ Jesus by the will of God,  to the saints in Ephesus, to you who share Christian faith: receive grace and peace from God our Father and from Jesus the Lord.  Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing.

 God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence.  From eternity he destined us in love to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will.

This goal suited him:  that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved might finally receive all glory and praise. For in Christ we obtain freedom, sealed by his blood, and have the forgiveness of sins.

In this appears the greatness of his grace,  which he lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding,  God has made known to us his mysterious design,

in accordance with his loving-kindness in Christ.  In him and under him God wanted to unite, when the fullness of time had come, everything in heaven and on earth.

 

 Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

The Lord has made know his salvation.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊     

Luke 11:47-54

A curse is on you, for you build memorials to the prophets your ancestors killed.   So you approve and agree with what your ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and now you can build!”

(The Wisdom of God also said,) “I will send prophets and apostles and this people will kill and persecute some of them.  But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,   from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will have to answer for them all.

A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented others from entering.”

 As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to harass him,  asking him endless questions, setting traps to catch him in something he might say.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Pray for the Leaders

These days we have been listening to some pretty strong words  from Jesus directed specifically at the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Jesus knew what was in their hearts (cf. Jn 2:24-25) and hence, was a perfect judge of souls.

He was all the more severe on them because, as leaders of the people, they had greater responsibility to live according to God’s heart and be an inspiration for the people, but they chose otherwise.

It is not surprising that they turned defensive at such hard-hitting words, especially when made in public. However, in the sacred chamber of their souls, they should have recognized the truth of Jesus’ words and repented; instead, they hardened their hearts, refusing to accept their guilt and deciding to eliminate Jesus.

That is what power does: silence the voice of truth. Let us pray today for our leaders – in the Church and in the secular world-to have hearts after the heart of the Good Shepherd.