Over the past several readings, Jesus has directed strong words toward the scribes and Pharisees. This continues with today’s reading by Matthew in which Jesus once again rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy – part of the seven woes against them. One can certainly sense Jesus’ anger toward their hypocrisy, but also the sorrow he feels toward them for their beliefs and practices – one can sense Jesus’ frustration and sadness for despite showing them the way they just don’t get it. Within the reading, we see how the scribes and Pharisees believe the way to the Kingdom of heaven is through following their prescribed rules and rituals. However, it is through their arrogancy that they fail to understand that their stance and beliefs are not only limiting their own ability to enter the kingdom of heaven, but to others as well through their failure to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and in similarly dissuading others from believing in Jesus. Jesus then chastises them for converting others to fall into a similar belief system as opposed to accepting him as the Christ and following his teachings. Finally, Jesus criticizes them for their misguided use of scriptures and the creation of traditions, rituals, and oaths to follow and then blindly guiding others to believe this is the path to the Kingdom of God versus following the truth, which is Jesus and his teachings.

After reading Matthew, I ask myself – Like the scribes and Pharisees, have I set up impediments in my life that keep me from accepting Jesus as the Christ and from entering the Kingdom of heaven? Is it arrogancy, hypocrisy, showmanship, or flat out not abiding by my sacramental oath to love God and to do so with all my heart. I pray that through humility and reflection that I may better understand my faults and better prepare to honor God in the manner that Jesus taught us.