Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 16, 2019
The Lord said, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.”
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.”
My wife of 50 years claims that, at times, I lack a grasp of the obvious; but in today’s reading even I didn’t need to be hit upside the head to realize that Jesus, with his denunciating four “woes,” was more than a tad provoked by the Pharisees. Apparently, Jesus’ frustration had been building up for some time but reached this climax at a dinner hosted by a Pharisee at his home with fellow experts in the Mosaic Law.
We learn from Luke in preceding verses that Jesus was invited because of his newfound celebrity status with the crowds. Jesus had just driven out a mute demon from an individual that then allowed him to speak again. When pressed about the origins of his power, Jesus intimated that the “kingdom of God had come upon them.”
As for the hosting Pharisee, rather than acknowledge the power and love of God displayed by Jesus in the miracle, he instead became incredulous that this holy man at his table did not observe the ritual washing prescribed by the law.
Unlike the Pharisees who held the law over people like a bludgeon, ready to ostracize or denounce souls for the slightest of missteps, Jesus wants us to be reconciled to God and to follow the two greatest commandment: ‘love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself’. We should strive to live our earthly lives to be saints in the next. We should continually encourage anyone struggling on their eternal path to know more about Jesus and his merciful love.
Prayer
God our Father, you do not desire judgment, but mercy. Help us to live not in judgment of one another, but rather in love as your Son taught us. You tell us that we are not to judge, as it will lead to our own condemnation. Make us ever ready to listen faithfully to your Gospel of love and forgiveness. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Hedwig was a strong mother and wife, and is honored for the faith that she brought to her husband and the people that they governed.
She was born in Bavaria in 1174, and was aunt to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. As a girl, she was placed in a monastery for her education, and when she was 12, she was given to marriage to a duke named Henry. Together, they had seven children.
When her husband succeeded his father, and gained the governance of his region, Hedwig encouraged him to establish a monastery of Cistercian nuns. Together, they founded more monasteries, which helped develop the faith among their people, and also preserved and enhanced their culture. Both Henry and Hedwig founded hospitals, which they took personal interest in.
As their children matured, they gave the couple much trouble. Several bickered bitterly over land rights, even battling one another. Hedwig tried to intervene, but eventually resigned herself and moved to one of the monasteries she had founded. There, she spent her time in the prayer and manual labor of the community, and was known for her austerities that helped her sharpen her will. For example, she would often travel to nearby villages for Mass without wearing shoes, in any kind of weather.
She assisted her husband, urging peace at every opportunity. He fought several major battles, and at one point, Hedwig had to ransom him when he was captured. When Henry died, she permanently joined one of her convents that was led by her daughter, and gave away all of her possessions to the poor.
Even when she was alive, St. Hedwig was given the gift of miracles, and she healed a nun who was blind by making the sign of the cross upon her. Several other miraculous cures are attributed to her. She died on this date in 1243, and is patron saint of brides. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Hedwig, you are the patron saint of brides who gave away all of your possessions to the poor—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Hedwig is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 3, 2024.