We sometimes come across people who say things that hurt, but what they say is the truth and makes sense. Some of such persons are called prophets, since what they are saying is to bring us back to our senses and help us realign ourselves with what is actual church teaching. However, those of us who say such things may not be appreciated or accepted by those who do not want to face the truth or accept the facts. Such persons would go to great lengths to try and discredit the prophet, in an attempt to safeguard the status quo or to maintain their interpretation of what they claim the church teaches, no matter how distorted or diverted the so called teaching may be.
In today's Gospel, the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees and Jesus were in constant conflict, as the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees had their own interpretation of religion and its practices, which was constantly challenged by Jesus.The chief priests, scribes and Pharisees tried to make Jesus dance to their tune but He wouldn't and He even said of them: "We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn't cry." Because Jesus and John the Baptist didn't conform, the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees labelled them as "possessed" and "glutton and drunkard." But as we know, it is the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees who had become "possessed" and "glutton and drunkard," since they were the ones who had interpreted God's laws according to their whims and fancies, instead of what is true.
What about us? Are we just as guilty like the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees, coming up with our own interpretations just because what the church teaches is not to our liking? May we come to realise what is true, and teach the truth accordingly, not what what we like or what suits us.
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