St John Mary Vianney

Today is Tuesday the 4 August, the feast of St John Mary Vianney in the 18th week of Ordinary Time.        

Come, my way, my truth, my life. As I enter this time of prayer today, I begin by inviting the Lord into my life.  I acknowledge my need for God, to show me the way, to teach me the truth, to give me life.  

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew15:1-2, 10-14      

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.’ Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’  

Jesus’ conflict with the pharisees was real, and serious, and ultimately contributes to his death.  What is it about Jesus that most annoys the pharisees?. . .

What is about the pharisees here that annoys Jesus?. . .

As you listen again, see if you can pick up on what really matters to Jesus. 

This Jesus challenges legalism on the one hand, yet has such high standards for his disciples. This is Jesus: so passionate about justice and yet so ready to show mercy . . . What is he showing you today?  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.