Gospel 

Mt 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

Sermon

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's Gospel passage presents us with a stern warning from Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees. He calls them hypocrites, blind guides, and blind fools. Why? Because they have locked the Kingdom of heaven before men, refusing to enter themselves and preventing others from entering.

They prioritize outward appearances over true faith, traversing land and sea to make converts, but only to make them twice as much children of Gehenna as themselves. They focus on trivial matters, debating which oaths are binding and which are not, while neglecting the weightier matters of the law.

Jesus exposes their hypocrisy, revealing that they value the gold and gifts above the temple and altar that make them sacred. They swear by the wrong things, neglecting the true source of power and authority.

This passage teaches us that:

- Hypocrisy can lead us to lock others out of the Kingdom of heaven

- Outward appearances can mask a lack of true faith

- Prioritizing trivial matters can distract us from what truly matters

- We must examine our hearts and motivations to ensure we are not blind guides

As we reflect on this passage, let us ask ourselves:

- Are we hypocrites, presenting a false exterior while neglecting our inner faith?

- Do we prioritize outward appearances over true devotion to God?

- Are we focused on trivial matters, neglecting the weightier matters of our faith?

- Do we value the wrong things, neglecting the true source of power and authority?

May we heed Jesus' warning and examine our hearts, seeking to be genuine and true in our faith. May we prioritize the Kingdom of heaven and seek to enter ourselves, allowing others to enter as well.

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,

We come before you, acknowledging the danger of hypocrisy in our lives. Forgive us for prioritizing outward appearances over true faith, and for neglecting the weightier matters of our faith.

Help us to examine our hearts and motivations, that we may not be blind guides leading others astray. May we seek to be genuine and true in our faith, prioritizing the Kingdom of heaven above all else.

Deliver us from the temptation to value the wrong things, and may we instead seek the true source of power and authority. May our oaths and promises be made in reverence to you, and may we always seek to enter the Kingdom of heaven ourselves, allowing others to enter as well.

We pray for those who have been locked out of the Kingdom of heaven due to the hypocrisy of others. May they find the truth and enter into your loving presence.

May we heed Jesus' warning and seek to be authentic disciples, reflecting your love and grace to a world in need.

In Jesus' most holy name we pray, Amen.

Additional prayer points:

- Ask for forgiveness for hypocrisy and superficiality

- Pray for genuine faith and authenticity

- Seek guidance to prioritize the Kingdom of heaven

- Ask for deliverance from valuing the wrong things

- Pray for those affected by hypocrisy and superficiality.

+ 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