Saint Augustine of Hippo
Do Not Close the Doors of the Kingdom
Jesus went to the heart of the matter when he called the religious leaders of his day blind Pharisees and hypocrites! A hypocrite is an actor or imposter who says one thing but does the opposite or who puts on an outward appearance of doing good while inwardly clinging to wrong attitudes, selfish desires and ambitions, or bad intentions. Many scribes and Pharisees had made it a regular practice to publicly put on a good show of outward zeal and piety with the intention of winning greater honors, privileges, and favors among the people. Jesus had a very good reason for severely rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, the religious teachers and leaders, for misleading people and neglecting the heart and essence of God's law - love of God and love of neighbor.
Today begins Jesus’ “Woe to you…” condemnations of the scribes and Pharisees. He issues seven subsequent woes and condemnations. The word woe can also be translated as alas. It is as much an expression of sorrowful pity as it is of anger. Why did Jesus' lament and issue such a stern rebuke? Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's word, and they misled the people they were supposed to guide in the ways of God.
Today we see the first three woes. Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees: “You shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces... (those for whom you travel far to convert them, when you convert them), You make them twice as much a child of Hell as you are...woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites...woe for you blind guides...” What does it say about the Pharisees’ hearts? Jesus clearly knows the consequences of the Pharisees’ misguided zeal. It seems that their primary goal was condemnation—far from the goal of God the Father who sent his only Son for the salvation of the world. These are very stark images that can help us revisit our interior intentions and our deepest motives for teaching, guiding, and enforcing laws. Are what we are doing, the laws we are making, the preaching we are preaching, the teachings we are teaching and even the life we are living stopping people from accessing the kingdom of God, or even making them worse than we found them? Jesus today throws us into a reflection on such questions.
How can we shut the door of God's kingdom in our own personal lives and those of others? We close it through stubborn pride, disobedience, and ignorance and when we show bad examples to those we are leading or those who look up to us. Do you submit your mind to God's word, or do you cling to your own thoughts and ideas of what is right, true, and good for you? Do you allow the world's way of thinking to form the way you think, act, and speak - or do you allow God's word of truth to form the way you think, act, and speak? Do you ignore God's word through indifference or lack of reflection on his word?
Let us Pray.
Lord Jesus, your word is life for me. May I never shut the door to your heavenly kingdom through my stubborn pride or disbelief. Help me to listen to your voice attentively and to conform my life more fully to your word. Amen
Be blessed.
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