They got rid of the prophets, and you build monuments to them! For that reason the wisdom of
God also said: I will send prophets and apostles and these people will kill and persecute some
of them. But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that
has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of
Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the Sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the
people of this time will have to answer for them all. A curse is on you, teachers of the law, for
you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented
others from entering.” As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began
to harass him, asking him endless questions, setting traps to catch him in something he might say.

Reflect

“Use knowledge to uplift others.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law, known as religious
leaders in the time of Jesus, possessed knowledge which was not easily accessible to ordinary
people then. The teachers of the law, for example, were knowledgeable of the Torah or their
Teaching. The knowledge and practice of the Teaching guided them in living their life well.
The problem was that they neither practiced what they knew nor did they use that knowledge to
help make other people’s lives better. Today’s Gospel continues Jesus’ ouai, expressing his grief
over the abuse and misuse of knowledge of the Torah by the teachers of the law and Pharisees.
Knowledge is power. Power per se is good. But if this particular power is used for self-serving
purposes, then this power will surely be corrupted, causing much suffering. Thus, being
responsible for the things we know is a great challenge. We are called to use our knowledge
to uplift other people’s conditions, easing their burdens. Our journey of faith, by this time, must
have madeus more sensitive to the needsof others and more responsivein helping others to lift
up their burdens.

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