Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.
Today's Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
I am a rule follower. When I read about the Pharisees, I can easily see myself in their shoes, patting myself on the back for following all the rules handed down to me. But our ancestry is a mixed bag of prophets and those who killed prophets. My own heart has the same contradictions: parts that love God and parts that don’t.
Jesus has no patience for the Pharisees' prescriptions and their refusing to see the freedom found in healing if it doesn’t follow their formula at the right time or in the right way. And yet, what good is a heart that follows rules if it is filled with pride and self-love? There is no room for the Gospel of repentance, dying to self, and love of neighbor in a heart like that. There is no room for God, and love of God is that missing key of knowledge.
Love of God requires humility and wisdom, the wisdom that we are creatures dependent on our Creator for everything. If we become like the Pharisees and treat Jesus with hostility, we have lost our love for God.
“Repent, and believe in the gospel,” are among the first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Mark. Those words apply to us every day as we repent of the times we have lost our love for God, for the times we have chosen to follow with our words but not our hearts. All God is asking of us is repentant hearts so He can work His miracle of conversion in us.
Ponder:
Where might I be following the rules while my heart is still far from God? Make an Examination of Conscience and resolve to go to Confession this month.
Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Key of Knowledge, the source of wisdom and humility. Humble my heart to see how dependent I am on You for every good thing, and forgive me of my hardness of heart.
Copyright 2025 Allison Auth
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