Jesus challenges us to be genuinely open to God

In today’s Gospel from Matthew (23: 23-26) Jesus challenges the scribes and Pharisees about the priorities they place on different aspects of their faith.

Fr Paul says it is obvious that Jesus is criticising the scribes and Pharisees about their different practices, in reality the key word in this Gospel is the word ‘neglected’.  The scribes and Pharisees have neglected justice mercy and good faith.

He notes that we need to be aware this is the third time in Matthew that the Gospel writer insists that what God wants is not the ritual of sacrifice as practiced by the scribes and Pharisees but, rather, a genuine openness and the gift of oneself.

For our prayer today, Fr Paul invites us to reflection on these questions ‘How open and genuine am I with God? Or do I let my daily rituals get in the way of me doing what God wants?

Please note: Our new Mass schedule begins on 1 September and we will be returning to St Agnes’ Church in Hay Street, now that maintenance works are complete. For details of the new schedule, please refer to the Parish website (www.stagnesparish.org.au) or the Parish bulletin