Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you for you are
like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don’t notice them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them.” Then
a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, “Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too.” And Jesus answered, “A curse is on you also,
teachers of the Law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves do not move a finger to help them.

Reflection

In this gospel, Jesus articulates what probably
is the sentiment of the many but voiceless people of
Israel. These are the poor who felt the oppression of
practices backed by religious institutions. These religiously
sanctioned practices in turn created a minority
spiritual elites such as the Pharisees and the teachers
of the Law. They are not bad people. It’s just that they
are unthinking participants in the oppression of their
people. And in time, they could not see beyond their
own narrow privileges and become vigorous promoters
of these unjust religious structures. And so, Jesus has
to use strong words to shake them from their human
made conventions and bring them back to the true worship
of God. In doing so, He ruffles some feathers. These
are people who will fight tooth and nail to preserve
the status quo thinking that they are fighting God’s cause
and therefore, what they do is spiritually glorious.