Everybody hates Mondays, but I have grown to dislike Tuesdays as well. Holy Week is no exception. Today’s scripture readings are hard. There’s Jesus pronouncing woes on the Pharisees. There’s the widow offering up all she had to give, and then there are these daggum disciples asking for signs.
Now I wish I could talk about the woman offering up her two cents, because at this point, I ain’t offering up much either. I really want to write about the disciples, because I too, have been asking for a sign, and wondering how long it’s going to be. In this season, I am a whole lot more like the disciples than I am the poor widow. I have more questions than offerings.
But there are a couple of these “Woe” statement that made me clutch my pearls. Matthew 23: 13 -15 was so upsetting to me that I had to read it in a couple of translations just to make sure I wasn’t overreacting. Jesus told the Pharisees, that not only were they not getting into heaven, but they were blocking the way for others. He restated in verse 15 with even harsher language. He said (I’m paraphrasing) ” Y’all will travel across land and sea to make disciples, then turn them into twice as much of a hellion as you yourselves, are.
One of my many fears as a parent is that I’m leading my children astray, or that they will take on the worst of my traits. The idea that I would be the reason my babies wouldn’t make it into heaven is devastating.
So today, I’m grateful for the ones who came before me, who lead me in a path that will lead to life everlasting. And I pray for anybody who finds themselves following behind me. Help me to walk in a way that not only opens doors, but that I have the good sense to hold the doors open for generations to come.
The Gospel According to Gabrielle 