You're listening to the Catholic Sprouts podcast.

This year, we are reading through all four Gospels.

Join us as we invite God to plant seeds of faith in our lives through His Holy Word.

Hey, welcome back to the Catholic Sprouts podcast, where we are working our way through the Gospels this school year.

Today is day 40 of this journey.

We are in the Gospel of Matthew, reading all of chapter 23 today.

Among other things, we will hear Jesus denounce the scribes and the Pharisees.

Today I'm reading from the new American translation of the Bible. I encourage you to follow along, take notes, and most importantly,

keep your heart prayerfully open to receive God's Holy Word. In the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth.

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 23, verses 1 through 39.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples saying,

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.

For they preach, but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on

people's shoulders, but they do not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be

seen. They're widened their philactories and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in the

synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and the salutation of rabbi. As for you, do not be called

...