Romans 3 : 21-30
Luke 11 : 47-54
It is said that the purpose of preaching is to comfort the disturbed, and to disturb the comfortable.
But when preaching ends up in comforting the comfortable, and disturbing those who are already disturbed, then the preaching may not be prophetic.
What is worse is when preaching is used for profit and benefit.
But besides having the double-edged thrust of consolation and desolation, the prophetic voice is recognized by its call for justice.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul highlighted the justice of God, which is essentially love and forgiveness.
Indeed, love and forgiveness is the very essence of the justice of God.
So whenever Jesus preached about love and forgiveness, He brought comfort to the disturbed and those in need for forgiveness.
But for those who want to silence the prophetic voice of justice, the words of Jesus brought them distress.
So if today, or any day, when we hear the voice of the Lord, when we hear the voice of love and forgiveness, when we hear the voice of justice, let us not harden our hearts and brush it off.
It is only when we are disturbed, then we will be awakened.