“You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.”

matthew 23:13

Matthew 23:13-22

Reflection

Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for denying the kingdom of heaven to people by blocking the entrance. He calls them blind fools for not putting the same value to everything when swearing on oath to the temple, altar, or gifts on the altar.

Jesus is very harsh with the Pharisees and scribes in this passage. He tells them they lock the kingdom of heaven before others. Do we sometimes do the same thing, by imposing the way we think one ought to live to get to heaven upon others? Of course, we want to teach people how to live a Christian life and become holy if they are far from Christ. At the same time, we are not their gatekeepers.

While we might not actually tell people they are not living their faith ‘correctly,’ our attitudes and actions towards them can speak louder than words. We should help guide those entrusted to us down a path of holiness, but not block them from progressing because we perceive they are doing something wrong. We must take a look at ourselves and our sins first before judging others.

How can you encourage and guide people to live holy and virtuous lives in a loving way?

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Saint of the Day

St. Louis XI, King of France: 1214 – 1270

“Fix your whole heart upon God, and love Him with all your strength, for without this no one can be saved.” St. Louis