While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. ‘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. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the market-places. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.’ One of the lawyers answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.’ And he said, ‘Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute”, so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’ Luke 11:37-52
Today is Halloween, a day when kids and adults dress up and pretend to be something other than themselves. An ancient tradition, which has lost its meaning and purpose now, which represented the tables being turned, when the veil between living and dead is permeable, and the poor and demeaned demand food and treats from the wealthy. Jesus turned the tables and was the eternal drawing near, seeing our petty foolishness and the cruelty of the wealthy and powerful. We often worry about optics, and perception, branding and good impressions. No costume, no ad campaign nor any good makeup can cover up the true nature and behavior of us humans. Jesus named the abuse and the abusers around him. And we are invited today, as we face into the anxiety of the coming days, to be agents of humility, truth and God's love in the face of hype, lies and abuse.
Wondrous Creator, source of all life and love
you shine your sun, moon and stars on us
to show us the way to follow your holy road
and to shine light on the good and bad alike.
We are often sucked in by great ad campaigns
and will not admit when we have been fooled
we often use our money and power to control
those who we deem as less and unworthy.
Help us to turn the tables on the unjust and cruel
let us be agents of your mercy, love and justice
make our lives model your compassion and care
so your love might shine on all the world today. Amen.
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