Vamshi Eedara csc –
Readings: Rom 4: 1-8; Lk 12: 1-7
Today’s gospel reading invites us to walk the talk.
In the reading Jesus continues to condemn the hypocrisy of the scribes and the pharisees comparing it to leaven or yeast. The Jews considered yeast as something evil, corrupting the dough during the process of fermentation. Jesus reminded the common people that the pharisees were hypocrites who pretended to be holy, and that they would corrupt people as the yeast corrupts the dough.
The teaching and example of the scribes and the pharisees influenced the crowd in a disastrous way, especially when the teachers failed to practice what they preached. Jesus also warned these religious leaders that their sins would be brought to light at the last judgment. In our life we behave sometimes like the pharisees and scribes, we love to preach but often fail to practice.
Today’s saint, Paul of the Cross, was someone who practised what he preached. He loved to follow Christ more closely and share in his passion and death. He preached the mystery of Christ – Crucified with the conviction that believers would turn from their sins and rededicate their lives to Christ. May this holy servant of God intercede for us, that we may come to know our crucified Lord more deeply.