From the responsorial psalm: “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” To the upright I will show the saving power of God.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 23:1-12, today’s readings)
“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.'”
Jesus teaches the crowds and the disciples about the behavior and attitudes of the religious leaders of his time, especially the scribes and Pharisees. He instructs the people to observe the teachings of the Pharisees and scribes in their teaching of the law. But he criticizes them because they perform their religious duties to be seen by others, seeking honor and recognition rather than serving God sincerely. “All their works are performed to be seen.” Jesus guides those who hear him to the authority of the Father in heaven and the one master, Christ. He invites us away from the false honor of those who exalt themselves and into a relationship of genuine humility and service to others—the way to true greatness in the kingdom of heaven.
Father in heaven, help me recognize that as an adopted son I call you Father through the obedience of Jesus Christ, your Son. Because of your loving-kindness, we are able to do this, as Saint Cyril says, “having been translated from servitude to adoption as sons, by the grace of the Father through the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Give me ample opportunity today to follow the example of Christ in true humility and service to others for the sake of your glory. In your kingdom, the first will be last and the last will be first. Be with me, Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.