原文|Bishop Barron
翻译|Carrie

朋友们，在今天的福音中，耶稣对经师和法利塞人进行猛烈抨击。令耶稣如此恼怒的根本问题是什么？

 

首先，“他们把沉重而难以负荷的担子捆好，放在人的肩上，自己却不肯用一个指头动一下。”有些宗教领袖使人们肩负重担，作出骇人的要求，为自己的清高而沾沾自喜。

 

第二，“他们所做的一切工作都是为叫人看”。他们以法律和道德规范来妄自尊大。虔诚的犹太人都会佩戴经匣来表示忠心耿耿。那么，他们想为什么不放宽经匣来引人注目，炫耀自己的虔诚。

 

第三，“他们又喜爱筵席上的首位，会堂中的上座；喜爱人在街市上向他们致敬，称他们为’辣彼’”。头衔、特殊待遇、高上的地位、受人尊敬的标志等等就像毒品一样令人飘飘欲仙。问题是这些毒品的效力转瞬即逝，然后我们贪得无厌，想要更高的头衔、更令人尊敬、更多的赞誉。对于这些欲壑难填的人们，耶稣有何建议？就是为了天国而各司其职时要心满意足。

 

Friends, in today's Gospel Jesus launches a blistering attack on the scribes and Pharisees. What are the underlying problems that bother Jesus?

 

First, "They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to help them." Some religious leaders burden people, making demands that are terrible, exulting in their own moral superiority.

 

Secondly, "All their works are performed to be seen." They use the law and morality as a means of inflating the ego. A pious Jew would wear Phylacteries as a sign of devotion. Well, they think, why not widen them, draw attention to them to show people how pious they are.

 

Third, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces and the salutation, 'Rabbi.'" Titles, privileges, places of honor, marks of respect. Like any drug, these provide a rush. The trouble is that this drug wears off rather quickly, and then we want more of it. A greater title, more respect, more recognition. What is Jesus' recommendation for those caught in this dilemma? Be satisfied with doing your work on behalf of God's kingdom, whatever it is.