Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people.
But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.
Reflection:
We all have one Father, Master, and Leader.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus criticizes religious leaders who may seem like pious preachers but fail to follow their teachings. Even in Jesus’s time, many so-called experts exploited the rewards and benefits granted to them by Jewish communities in exchange for their knowledge and teachings. They impressed others with their lofty standards and flashy attire, yet simultaneously burdened and bewildered everyone else with their rigorous, unrealistic demands.
In light of this cultural backdrop, Jesus advises both his followers then and us today to be mindful of our actions, uphold our integrity, and embrace humility in our daily lives. He encourages us to remember that we all have one Father, Master, and Leader. Regardless of our spiritual state or social status, we are always eternal beginners following Jesus, the One who precedes us all.
We seek the grace to see ourselves as we truly are and to rid ourselves of pride and egotism, which often obstruct genuine personal transformation.
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