Woe to you, Pharisees and teachers of the law!

Today’s Gospel features Jesus, who pronounces several woes against the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. The expression that is repeated; “woe to you…”, is a very strong criticism on the part of Jesus towards these characters. They neglect the most important things such as helping others, compassion, justice, generosity, etc., because they are attached to the letter of the law and consider only the external, the visible rites of purification, neglecting true purity, which is what comes from within and radiates in all daily activities. This strong criticism of Jesus towards them should also question us and lead us to review our life and way of acting. Could it be that we are giving more importance to the external than to life in the Spirit? Are we working to be seen and not really to be following Jesus?