FIRST READING
Ezekiel 43:1-7ab
The angel led me to the gate which faces the east, and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. The vision was like that which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar. I fell prone as the glory of the LORD entered the temple by way of the gate which faces the east, but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court. And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD. Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man stood beside me. The voice said to me: Son of man, this is where my throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of my feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (see 10b) The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD–for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 23:9b, 10b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 23:1-12
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 will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
REFLECTIONS:
Does your practice match your talk? Jesus scolds
the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the Jews, for their
showy practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant Jews.
See
how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!
In their misguided zeal for religion they sought respect and honor for
themselves rather than for God and for his word. They wanted the people
to treat them as great teachers and rulers. They, unfortunately, made the
practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they
were supposed to serve.
Was Jesus against calling anyone rabbi or father? Or was he just directing
this sharp rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus seemed to be warning
both his disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek
titles and honors to increase one's personal reputation and admiration
by others. The scriptures give ample warning about the danger of self-seeking
pride: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbes 16:18) "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the
humble." (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:24)
Jerome, an early church father (347-420 AD) and bible scholar who translated
the bible from the original Hebrew and Greek into the common Latin tongue,
comments on this passage:
"No one should be called teacher or father except God the Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the Father, because all things are
from him. He alone is the teacher, because through him are made all things
and through him all things are reconciled to God. But one might ask, 'Is
it against this precept when the apostle calls himself the teacher of the
Gentiles? Or when, as in colloquial speech widely found in the monasteries
of Egypt and Palestine, they call each other Father?' Remember this distinction.
It is one thing to be a father or a teacher by nature, another to be so
by generosity. For when we call a man father and reserve the honor of his
age, we may thereby be failing to honor the Author of our own lives. One
is rightly called a teacher only from his association with the true Teacher.
I repeat: The fact that we have one God and one Son of God through nature
does not prevent others from being understood as sons of God by adoption.
Similarly this does not make the terms father and teacher useless or prevent
others from being called father." [Jerome's Commentary
on Matthew]
Respect for God and his ways inclines us to Godly humility and simplicity
of heart. The word disciple means one who listens in order to learn.
Jesus shows us the way to the Father the way of peace, joy, righteousness,
holiness, and true happiness. He showed us the way by lowering himself
as a servant for our sake. He humbled himself, even to death on a cross,
that we might be raised up and exalted at the Father's right hand in heaven
(Philippians 2:1-11). What is true Christ-like humility? Humility is true
self-knowledge regarding oneself as God sees each of us. The humble do
not rely on themselves, but trust in God and in the power of his love and
saving grace. True humility is a servant-like quality which enables us
to place our life at the service of God and the service of our neighbor.
Do you know the joy of Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?
"Lord Jesus, teach me your way of humility and servanthood that I may
walk in love as you have loved me. Fill me with the joy of servanthood
that I may know the true freedom of selfless love and generous service
for my neighbor."
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