Wednesday October 15th: Am I a Pharisee?

“…you neglect justice and the love of the Lord.”

Luke 11: 42-46

In this encounter with the Pharisees, as recounted by St. Luke, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders and lawyers for neglecting the principles of justice and the love of God, which are central to the Old Testament and emphasized by Jesus in the New Testament. He hxighlights the Pharisees’ hypocrisy in their self-righteous interactions with others—demanding tithes for trivial things and expecting special treatment wherever they go.

This serves as a clear reminder for all of us—parents, teachers, and leaders—to get our priorities right and live lives of service to others. We must practice what Jesus has taught us—humility and justice—and in doing so, reflect God’s love through our daily actions and avoid being like the Pharisees.

As we celebrate the feast day of one of the Doctors of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila, let us embrace her words: “Always think of yourself as everyone’s servant; look for Christ Our Lord in everyone, and you will then have respect and reverence for them all.”