28th Week in Ordinary Time
Teresa of Jesus

1st Reading: Rom 3:21–30
Gospel: Lk 11:47–54
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “A curse is on you, for you build memorials to the prophets your ancestors killed. So you approve and agree with what your ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and now you can build!”
(The Wisdom of God also said,) “I will send prophets and apostles and this people will kill and persecute some of them. But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will have to answer for them all. “A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented others from entering.”
As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to harass him, asking him endless questions, setting traps to catch him in something he might say.

Commentary
Jesus offered a devastating attack against Pharisees in particular and lawyers in general. Pharisees, because of their misplaced concern for purity, exploit people. Lawyers, because of their lack of knowledge concerning the wisdom of God, lead people astray. The opposition of the Pharisees and scribes contrasted with the thousands, who came out to see Jesus. The lawyers and teachers of the law, who were concerned about knowledge of the law, had taken away the key of knowledge and hindered those who were seeking Jesus’ truth. They had never bothered to listen to the wisdom of God.
Persons of social prominence, rejected Jesus and designated him as a deviant. The scribes and Pharisees failed in their roles as religious brokers, because they actually blocked access to God, instead of facilitating it. When we see the story from Luke’s point of view, we also identify with Jesus. Thus, because of Luke’s characterization of Jesus and his opponents, when Jesus defied cultural expectations, we find that we accept him as the Christ, sent by God to save us all.

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