14 OCTOBER 2021 LUKE 11:47-54
THURSDAY OF THE 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
PROPHETIC MIRRORS
“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them” (Luke 11:47).
‘Shortsightedness’ of individuals and institutions have caused grave mistakes in history. For example, it was sheer ignorance and arrogance of church authorities that made them persecute and kill great astronomer Galileo. But today the church regrets doing so when science proved Galileo true.
There is the story of three women who went to look at a mirror to see their ugly faces and their reactions were different. The first woman broke the mirror in anger and hostility to reality. The second decorated the mirror thinking that it would make her beautiful. This is hypocrisy and it is the same with Pharisees because they built up memorials for their forefathers and prophets who they killed to cover up the mischievous act of killing (V.47). The third woman who was a realist.
The reason of Jewish hostility towards Jesus is not because He did something evil, but because of his prophetic mission. Genuine prophets set examples before the world and thus, they hold a mirror to the face of the world. They reflect the clear image of the world and the world does not want to see it because who wants to see their ugly face. Instead of trying to meddle their lives the world tries to eliminate the prophetic voice as an easier solution. This is why prophets are persecuted.
In the context of the prophetic mission of Christians it is said to them that ‘if you find the world too friendly and affirming your Christian living you might need to critically examine the authenticity of your living’. Amen.