The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This is the continuation of previous gospel. Jesus is indicting the scribes and pharisees. This statement today is really convicting, and speaks to the darker nature of man. Prophets come into this world, and justifiably call out the wickedness of men. Those that hear the warnings ridicule, scorn and even kill these prophets for challenging the power and authority of men, and for having the temerity to speak the obvious. Then after the prophets are dead and the prophecy comes true, we discover that the prophet was right, and that we were wrong. The prophet is then venerated, and his teachings are held in the highest esteem.
Why must man go through this exercise, why cant we see the truth when it is right in front of us. I think it must be pride. We think we know better than them, and that we think that we cant be wrong, thus we lash out in defence of our position. It is probably also fear of loss of the power and stature that we have acquired. Somtimes the prophet is heard…, The Ninivites heard the warnings of Jonah and repented. We should all strive to be like that, to hear that warnings that Jesus and the prophets are telling us today…, And maybe, just maybe, when we see Jesus He will say “blessed are you”, and not “woe to you”.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me to put my pride away and to hear the warnings and messages that you want to send me today. Amen.