Empty Memorials

Gospel: Luke 11: 47-54

How often is it the case that religious leaders have taken away the key of knowledge, have not entered into it themselves, and prevent others from doing so!  How much of religion is about the vicarious practices of temple worship and making secondary and of lesser importance the practices of mercy that throughout scripture are said to be the core of faith!  Jesus expresses the same frustration many face in the life of religion, a frustration we ourselves may feel.

Religious leaders love to conduct capital campaigns for ego projects of grand church buildings and schools for affluent suburbanites.  They love to invoke the names of saints who in previous generations were maligned as the ancient prophets.  How little is raised in comparison for the works of mercy and charity! How few sermons devoted to those topics, how few efforts made to recruit people to engage in what is the actual essentials of our faith life.

Jesus never built a house of worship.  His time in such structures were ones of conflict and opposition from others.  In the midst of such institutions he showed us what was important: healing others, liberating them from their demons, feeding people.  While we may be frustrated with the organs of religious institution, we continue to have the example of Jesus to inspire us to look past the empty calories of religion and focus on what is essential - the works of mercy and love.