In today's Gospel, Jesus continues to address and define the Pharisees. Two weeks ago, we heard the Pharisees are those who have two faces, who are dishonest and disingenuous, and have a very limited sense of humanity. They lack charity for widows and orphans Though they profess love for God, they lack love for neighbors, which is a contradiction. This week we see another aspect of the Pharisees, which of course can be us when we adopt these attitudes. Today they are described as power hungry.  The Pharisees are those who want to take the chair of Moses (of authority) and make others carry burdens they are unwilling to carry themselves. The Pharisees are those who have not understood what service is really about. They want honorific titles such as priest, teacher, director or coordinator (whatever title) but they are unwilling to do the work.  They have not only taken the chair of Moses but also the chair of comfort. They are not to be bothered but are so prone to "delegate" others to do the work. The Pharisees are those who enjoy the banquets, the social aspect but are not willing to do the labor of love to share the Gospel. They don't learn from St. Paul to work day and night to earn their own keep so as to not be a burden.  They ask for too much but give too little. And as a combination of many of these things, very cynical Pharisees will use their position of power to become a burden for others…asking for favors that cannot be refused. The first reading is very clear, priests should not use their ministry to benefit themselves because their blessing will become a curse. But the message is for all to not misuse the ministry entrusted to them but serve day and night and not to be a burden or place burdens on      others.  The Pharisees sit while the servants work. The servants want nothing in return, no titles, no money, no influence, only to preach the Gospel free of cost.