Luke 11: 37 – 44 Keeping Up Appearances???

Luke 11: 37 – 44 Keeping Up Appearances???

After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."

Yikes! Here we find Jesus angry and not pulling any punches. He goes after the Pharisees, a prominent religious group of the time, listing out their sins . . . putting more store in empty rituals, neglecting justice, pride, rapaciousness, lying to themselves and others, etc. However tempting it would be to relate these flaws to the Church or to any organized religion (and it is) I must own up to the fact that (I think) I am meant by Jesus to be his “church”. (I’m not sure I even know what that word actually means . . . Any ideas???) When Jesus was on earth the last thing on his mind was to form some giant structure of dos and don’ts. Jesus dealt with individuals. He asked individuals to repent, to seek the Kingdom of God, to be generous and forgiving. He gave us the example of his life, how he treated people to inspire us. He chose ordinary fallible people to help him in his mission and spread the word. He eschewed pride and injustice. So let me not take false refuge in anger and inaction. I(we)are the true church. By my/our actions or inactions I/we represent Jesus Christ on earth.