12 OCTOBER 2021 LUKE 11: 42-46
WEDNESDAY OF THE 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
PRIMACY OF LOVE
“And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them” (Luke 11:46).
It is said, ‘corruption of the best is the worst’. That is true, the abuse of those educated and well trained is the worst. Jesus’ woe pronouncements are expressions of displeasure, distress and lamentation against Pharisees and scribes for the abuse of power and mandate given to them. They represent any leadership or institution (political, social or religious) of any time anywhere in the world where leadership has a different set of rules through which they can enjoy special privileges and exceptions. This is what Jesus intended while saying, ‘you impose on people burdens to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them’ (v.46). Those who are in power use laws to subjugate and oppress others by abusing their position and possibilities for self-aggrandizement and self-righteousness.
The Pharisees and scribes are so badly educated, for while they have learned so much about Mosaic Law, they are blind to the essence of law: love. They have a wrong hierarchy of values by giving priority to tithing on herbs which is a negligible matter. Let us place love at the top of priority values. A God-fearing family built on the love of its members, a school which inculcates values and a wholesome environment will always place love at the top of the hierarchy of values. Those who do not place love at the top of the hierarchy of values become uncaring, unloving, rude, hateful, corrupt, and cruel. Amen