Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Therefore, the wisdom of God said, “I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building.”

Jesus reminds his audience that their ancestors persecuted the prophets, believing what they were doing was the right thing. Just like their forefathers, the scholars and Pharisees think they know right from wrong. They see Jesus as a threat rather than as a savior and so they put all of their energies into interrogating and plotting against him. They have made themselves judges of good and evil just as Adam and Eve did and this is why Jesus tells them that they will be charged with the blood of all the prophets from Abel to Zechariah. They have condemned themselves by making themselves into judges, a right only God has. Just like the scholars and the Pharisees, we too are constantly tempted to make judgments against others. Of course, the judgments we make against others will also be made against us on the Day of Judgment. So let us not make ourselves into judges, but rather let us be like the prophets, proclaiming the gospel through our words and works.

Do we make judgments against others or persecute them for their faults? Do we do confront others’ sins in a spirit of love or do we do so in a judgmental manner? Are we willing to be sent out into the world like the prophets to proclaim the gospel?

O Lord, send us into the world as your prophets.

Amen.