Recognising the Pharisee withinReflecting on our Sunday Readings with Bro Joseph Wong Pak YiiNov 08, 202432nd Sunday inOrdinary Time (B)Readings: 1 Kings 17: 10-16;Hebrews 9:24-28;Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 (or 12:41-44)Why did Jesus’ words towards the scribes and pharisees repeatedly sound unsparing in the Bible, whereas He treated the prostitutes and tax collectors with much compassion? All of them were sinners whom He loved and came to redeem, but the key difference between them was the heart of repentance. Now, we may easily identify the scribes and pharisees around us, but often times, we have overlooked the pharisaic behaviour within us. In the Gospel, Jesus contrasted the scribes’ selfrighteousness to the poor widow who gave generously without pompous show of her good deeds. The scribes were self-righteous by parading their pious acts, whilst the poor widow was outpouring her love by giving all she had to live on.

Source: The Herald November 08, 2024 05:40 UTC