Saturday of the Twentieth Week of the Year
Matthew
23:1-2
Many scriptures make me feel uncomfortable. This one makes me
squirm. Imagine if the Lord were saying these terrible things about you or
me!
Imagine Him saying that I sit in the chair of Moses
and that my people should listen to what I teach, but that they
should not imitate my example!
Reading on, the picture gets worse: binding up heavy loads
and placing them on people’s backs, not lifting a finger to help, doing good
things only to be seen and praised. Jesus rails against this kind of false
religion. But it’s so easy to slip into!
Jesus calls us to be a Church of service, a Church of
humility and gentleness. It’s so easy for the priest, parent, teacher, or
for anyone in authority to exercise power rather than humbly serve.
I hate this Gospel; I see too much of myself in it. I see too
much of my own tendency to glorify and serve myself and my own agenda.
Religion too easily becomes for me a comfortable lifestyle. It’s nice to be
the king!
It’s great to hear the “Yes, Fathers” and “No,
Fathers.” It’s so easy to think you’re important, that you’re somebody.
When I read this Gospel I see too many descriptions of myself that I don’t
like. How do you feel when you read this Gospel? Thank God we have another
chance to change the ending of this story. There is hope for us.
Thank God we always have another chance to change the ending
of our story. This salvation and life is in store for us if we choose. Jesus
gives us such a direct and foolproof path to follow:
“The greatest among you is the one who serves the rest.”
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