Readings
I - Is. 1: 10, 16-20
II - Mt. 23: 1 - 12
THE GREATEST MUST BE THE LEAST
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus instructs on what to follow and what to disregard. To follow whatever the scribes and the Pharisees taught as they were taking the seat of Moses and to disregard their hypocrisy and vain glory. Jesus, the Rabbi par excellence on the other hand replaces the weighing law of the scribes and the Pharisees with just two commandments: love of God and love of neighbour, in all humility and love. His preaching was substantiated with the personal example of washing the feet of his disciples: “You call me Master and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet you also should wash one another’s feet” (Jh. 13: 13-14). This is Christian charity and Christian living.
The Lord detests the proud (Prov. 3: 34) and scatters the proud hearted in the thoughts of their heart (Lk. 1:51). Most of us like those Pharisees wish to be greeted, esteemed, honoured and revered. Only the personal knowledge of oneself, in other words, personal awareness can help a person to ignore all these and keep focused in his/her going. Jesus knew that he was the Son of God, the Promised One and the Messiah and therefore he was able remain serene at all circumstances: when the people hailed him to be their king or abandoned by all, hanging on the cross. We are children of God and let this awareness help us to ignore all earthly desires and longings and trigger us to be focused in conducting ourselves as the children of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to live like you in love and humility”
