Luke 11:42-44 NRSVue

⁴²“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. ⁴³Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves on which people unknowingly walk.”

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
This is not 'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.'

Reflection
The Pharisees take pride in following the law and being important. Am I overly concerned with status and respectability?

Reflection
How important to me are justice and the love of God?

Reflection
Jesus did not blame the Pharisees for multiplying rules about tithing mint and rue. But he denounced them for neglecting the deeper commandments, justice and the love of God. Every community, including that of the church, tends to have its in-group, those with influence, who are treated with respect. Lord, save me from that fate. Let me be content to be overlooked and forgotten.

Reflection
Jesus encourages a consistency in life between what we say and what we do, between who we are and who we advertise ourselves to be. His strongest condemnations are for people who exploit the poverty and the weakness of others. Interior death is when we do not live as we know we should, when we follow the tides of the times, when we disobey conscience. We are then, says Jesus, like unmarked graves. Prayer can bring the dead side of ourselves to life. Jesus is the one who lives and loves life to the full.

Reflection
I must heed your words, Lord. I so easily give priority to collecting debts and paying bills, and have little energy left for justice and love.