This morning at Holy Mass, Father LeRoy read from the Gospel where Jesus spoke so strongly against the scribes and Pharisees. He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” and told them that they were keeping others out of heaven, even though they themselves weren’t going in. Jesus also called them blind guides because they cared more about the gold and gifts than the temple or the altar that made those things holy.
On the walk home, Sister Mary Claire helped me understand. She said Jesus wasn’t just angry, but sorrowful, because the leaders were supposed to bring people closer to God, not push them away. “It’s a warning for us too, Kathy,” she told me. “We must be careful not to look holy only on the outside, but to really love God in our hearts. God is greater than all gold and gifts, because He is the One who makes everything holy.”
Mini trotted happily beside us, her ears perked and her little bottom wiggling. A butterfly floated past, and she gave a wiggle as if she might chase it, but then she came right back to walk with me. I thought how simple Mini’s love is—she doesn’t pretend. She just loves me as I am. That’s the way God wants us to be with Him, not pretending like the Pharisees did.
When we reached the mailbox, I told Sister I wanted to remember this Gospel forever: not to treasure the shiny things, but the One who makes them holy. She gave me a smile and squeezed my shoulder.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Help me to love You in truth, not just in words or in what others see. Keep me from being a blind guide. Teach me to follow You with my whole heart, and to see that all things are holy because You are in them. Bless Sister Mary Claire and little Mini too.
Love, Kathy
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