Woe to You

Matthew 23

For a Christian Pastor, is one of the most humbling passage of scripture in the gospels.  I actually believe that it should be read at every ordination, for the traps contained in this scripture are gaping holes into which almost every cleric falls at one time or other in their years of Christian ministry.  I know this, to my shame, from personal experience.  These traps lead not only to personal spiritual destruction, but also to poverty in our calling.

Hypocrisy...saying one thing and doing another...masking the truth for the sake of convenience or out of fear of rejection, or Lord forbid...for personal gain; self promotion and expectation of privilege; lack of integrity, that is striving after outward appearances for the sake of reputation while leaving the pursuit of justice, mercy & faithfulness to the gospel aside; building and maintaining edifices and monuments while ignoring the lost masses who will never enter therein...these are the traps with which we struggle.

Lord, save us from ourselves and the self-centredness which causes us to jump into this unholy pit. Turn our hearts we pray to the least, lost lonely and broken that we might willingly sacrifice ourselves as you did for them.   Amen