The Feast of St Peter Claver SJ, Priest and Missionary.

A PHARISEE IS A PERSON PRACTICING OR ADVOCATING STRICT OBSERVANCE OF EXTERNAL FORMS AND CEREMONIES OF RELIGION OR CONDUCT WITHOUT REGARD TO THE SPIRIT; SELF-RIGHTEOUS; HYPOCRITICAL. (DICTIONARY).

"Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

"No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

"Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6: 39 - 42).

Friday 9th September 2022 of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time.

Friday 9th September 2022 of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Peter Claver of the Society of Jesus  (1580 - 1654). Spanish. Priest, Religious and Missionary. St Peter Claver served for over 40 years African slaves dumped at the South American seaport of Cartagena now Colombia. During 40 years, he fed the slaves, cared for the sick and dying. He preached the Good News to them and baptized over 300,000.

It would be humanly impossible for the slaves and Peter Claver to heed Jesus' word and obey it:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
But grace overcame nature and they loved their persecutors as Jesus did from the Cross.

St Peter Claver is called the "Slave of slaves." God gave him great love and patience for the suffering slaves. Peter took many of them with him to heaven.

Whom did Jesus call the blind in today's Gospel?
"Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15: 14).

Do you know any  Pharisees in your community?

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6).
When a blind judge guides another blind judge, will not the two judges fall into the ditch? Jesus defines His mission thus:

"I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." (John 18: 37).

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