Saturday of the Twentieth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 424
Lectionary: 424
Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz,
of the clan of her husband Elimelech.
Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,
"Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field
of anyone who will allow me that favor."
Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter," and she went.
The field she entered to glean after the harvesters
happened to be the section belonging to Boaz
of the clan of Elimelech.
Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter!
Do not go to glean in anyone else's field;
you are not to leave here.
Stay here with my women servants.
Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them;
I have commanded the young men to do you no harm.
When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels
the young men have filled."
Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,
"Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?"
Boaz answered her:
"I have had a complete account of what you have done
for your mother-in-law after your husband's death;
you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth,
and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."
Boaz took Ruth.
When they came together as man and wife,
the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.
Then the women said to Naomi,
"Blessed is the LORD who has not failed
to provide you today with an heir!
May he become famous in Israel!
He will be your comfort and the support of your old age,
for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you.
She is worth more to you than seven sons!"
Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.
And the neighbor women gave him his name,
at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi.
They called him Obed.
He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
of the clan of her husband Elimelech.
Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,
"Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field
of anyone who will allow me that favor."
Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter," and she went.
The field she entered to glean after the harvesters
happened to be the section belonging to Boaz
of the clan of Elimelech.
Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter!
Do not go to glean in anyone else's field;
you are not to leave here.
Stay here with my women servants.
Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them;
I have commanded the young men to do you no harm.
When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels
the young men have filled."
Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,
"Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?"
Boaz answered her:
"I have had a complete account of what you have done
for your mother-in-law after your husband's death;
you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth,
and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."
Boaz took Ruth.
When they came together as man and wife,
the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.
Then the women said to Naomi,
"Blessed is the LORD who has not failed
to provide you today with an heir!
May he become famous in Israel!
He will be your comfort and the support of your old age,
for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you.
She is worth more to you than seven sons!"
Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.
And the neighbor women gave him his name,
at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi.
They called him Obed.
He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 128:1B-2, 3, 4, 5
R. (4) See how
the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
You wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
You wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
AlleluiaMT 23:9B, 10B
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven;
you have but one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven;
you have but one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 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."
"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."
Meditation: "Whoever humbles oneself
will be exalted"
Who doesn't desire the praise and respect of others?
We want others to see us at our best with all of our strengths and achievements
- rather than at our worst with all of our faults and shortcomings. God sees us
as we truly are - sinners and beggars always in need of his mercy, help, and
guidance. Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers and rulers of
Israel, to teach and serve their people with humility and sincerity rather than
with pride and self-promotion. They went to great lengths to draw attention to
their religious status and 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 recognition and honor for themselves rather than for God. They made the
practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were
supposed to serve.
True respect for God inclines us to humble ourselves
and to submit to his wisdom and guidance. We cannot be taught by God unless we
first learn to listen to his word and then obey his instruction.
One Father and Teacher
Was Jesus against calling anyone a rabbi, the Jewish title for a teacher of God's word (Matthew 23:7-8), or a father? The law of Moses in Scripture specifically instructed all fathers to be teachers and instructors for their children to help them understand and obey God's instructions (Deuteronomy 6:7)? Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, the religious authorities of the Jewish people, in the presence of his disciples? Jesus wanted to warn both his own disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek honors and titles that draw attention to ourselves in place of God and his word. Pride tempts us to put ourselves first above others.
Was Jesus against calling anyone a rabbi, the Jewish title for a teacher of God's word (Matthew 23:7-8), or a father? The law of Moses in Scripture specifically instructed all fathers to be teachers and instructors for their children to help them understand and obey God's instructions (Deuteronomy 6:7)? Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, the religious authorities of the Jewish people, in the presence of his disciples? Jesus wanted to warn both his own disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek honors and titles that draw attention to ourselves in place of God and his word. Pride tempts us to put ourselves first above others.
The Scriptures give ample warning about the danger of
self-seeking pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). God opposes the proud, but
gives grace to the humble(James 4:6; Proverbs 3:24).
Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD), an early Christian
teacher and bible scholar, reminds those who teach and lead to remember that
they are first and foremost "disciples" and "servants" who
sit at the feet of their Master and Teacher the Lord Jesus Christ:
"You have one teacher, and you are
all brothers to each other...Whoever ministers with the divine word does not
put himself forward to be called teacher, for he knows that when he
performs well it is Christ who is within him. He should only call himself servant according
to the command of Christ, saying, Whoever is greater among you, let him
be the servant of all."
True humility
Respect for God and for his ways inclines us to humility and to simplicity of heart - the willing readiness to seek the one true good who is God himself. What is the nature of true humility and why should we embrace it as essential for our lives? We can easily mistake humility as something demeaning or harmful to our sense of well-being and feeling good about ourselves. True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to all others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves honestly, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4).
Respect for God and for his ways inclines us to humility and to simplicity of heart - the willing readiness to seek the one true good who is God himself. What is the nature of true humility and why should we embrace it as essential for our lives? We can easily mistake humility as something demeaning or harmful to our sense of well-being and feeling good about ourselves. True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to all others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves honestly, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4).
A humble person makes a realistic assessment of
oneself without illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble
person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly is. True
humility frees us to be ourselves as God regards us and to avoid falling into
despair and pride. A humble person does not want to wear a mask or put on a
facade in order to look good to others. Such a person is not swayed by
accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure. Do you know the joy
of Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?
Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other
virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God sees.
Humility helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true knowledge, wisdom, and
an honest view of reality. It directs our energy, zeal, and will to give
ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and
serve others willingly and selflessly, for their own sake, rather than for our
own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in
the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a
servant, and... who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death
on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus
loved and served others? The Lord Jesus gives us his heart - the heart of a
servant who seeks the good of others and puts their interests first in his care
and concern for them.
"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to
set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be
humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service
and kindness."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: God is our father and teacher, by
Jerome (347-420 AD)
"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." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON
MATTHEW)
SATURDAY,
AUGUST 26, MATTHEW 23:1-12eekday
(Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11, 4:13-17; Psalm 128)
(Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11, 4:13-17; Psalm 128)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (v 12).
TO KNOW: Jesus denounced the hypocritical behavior of the scribes and Pharisees. Although he acknowledged that their teaching authority rested on the "chair of Moses" (the "chair of Peter" is a similar term for Church authority), he warned his disciples not to follow the example of those religious leaders. The Pharisees enjoyed their titles of honor, and they liked to call attention to their phylacteries (Hebrew: tefillin) as evidence of their piety. These small leather boxes contained essential passages of the Torah, and were worn on the forehead and on the left arm (closest to the heart) during prayer. The tassels sewn on the corners of their garments (Hebrew: tzi-tzit) were a symbolic reminder to keep the Law of Moses. While the religious leaders demanded obedience to the minute details of the law, their deeds did not always correspond to their words. In contrast, Jesus was a humble servant and faithful teacher of the law of God's love and mercy.
TO LOVE: Are my religious practices motivated by piety or a desire for admiration?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me to imitate your humility as I strive to serve your people.
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 26
August 2017
Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17. Psalm
127(128):1-5. Matthew 23:1-12.
See how
the Lord blesses those who fear him — Psalm 127(128):1-5.
‘How have
I so earned your favour?’
Ruth leaves her homeland and gives
herself in service to Naomi. She does not expect to be favoured for her
actions, yet her self-giving wins her the admiration of Boaz. Ruth bears a son
to renew the family lineage. By today’s standards, Ruth does not seem such a
strong and courageous woman. She does not seek fame and success and is not
righteously angry. Every step she takes seems to involve a loss of self and
autonomy. Yet her strength lies in this very act of selflessness, when her
grief and loss were most acute.
To live as Ruth lived, in generous
service each and every day, appears overwhelming and potentially unrewarding.
Yet, as Ruth experienced, humility and service are possible if we act with
love, an unselfish love that is greater than our own desires and needs, a love
in the spirit of God’s unending love.
ST. JEANNE ELIZABETH DES BICHIER DES ANGES
St. Jeanne was born July 1773 at La Blanc, France and
died August 26, 1838. She was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.
Born to nobility and educated in a convent school, Jeanne
Elizabeth witnessed closely and was personally affected by the events of the
French Revolution which shook France when she was just 16 years old.
Upon the death of her father, she moved to La Guimetiere
with her mother, and in 1796, realizing that she needed to do something to
defend the Church and keep the faith alive amidst the attacks of the
revolutionaries, she decided to begin a ministry of teaching and serving the
poor.
She gathered groups of faithful in the town – which was at this
point without a priest or community of religious – and organized meetings of
prayer, studying of the Scriptures, and singing hymns.
She entered a Carmelite convent upon her mother’s death in
1804, and later the Society of Providence, with the advice of Saint Andrew
Fournet, an underground priest who was forced to remain clandestine because he
refused to make a pledge of allegiance to the government of the new republic.
He realized that she was the one God had called to lead a
community of women he had gathered, and she cofounded the Daughters of the
Cross with him in 1807 to care for the sick and poor, and to teach the
faith.
By the time of her death in 1838, the community had more than 60
houses all over France.
LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW 23,1-12
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
may we love you in all things and above all things
and reach the joy you have prepared for us
beyond all our imagining.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
may we love you in all things and above all things
and reach the joy you have prepared for us
beyond all our imagining.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 23,1-12
Then addressing the crowds and his
disciples Jesus said, 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.
You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but do not be guided by
what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy
burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move
them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing
broader headbands and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour
at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted respectfully
in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi. 'You, however, must not
allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you
are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have
only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be
called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among
you must be your servant. Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and
anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel is part of a long
criticism of Jesus against the Scribes and the Pharisees (Mt 23, 1-39). Luke
and Mark mention only a few lines of this criticism against the religious heads
of the time. It is only the Gospel of Matthew which has a longer presentation
of this. This very severe text makes us foresee the polemics which existed in
the communities of Matthew with the communities of the Jews of Galilee and
Syria of that time.
• In reading this text, which is strongly contrary to the one of the Pharisees, we have to be very attentive so as not to be unjust against the Jewish People. We Christians, for centuries, have had attitudes against the Jews and, for this reason, against the Christians. What is important in meditating these texts is to discover their objective. Jesus condemns the lack of coherence and of sincerity in the relationship with God and with the neighbour. He is speaking about hypocrisy, that of yesterday as well as that of today, of our hypocrisy!
• Matthew 23, 1-3: The basic error: they say, but they do not do. Jesus addresses himself to the multitude and to the disciples and criticizes the Scribes and the Pharisees. The reason for attacking them is the incoherence between their words and their acts. They speak but they do not do. Jesus recognizes the authority and the knowledge of the Scribes “The Scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses! You must, therefore, do and observe what they tell you, but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practice what they preach”.
• Matthew 23, 4-7: The fundamental error is manifested in diverse ways. The fundamental error is incoherence: “They say, but they do not do”. Jesus enumerates the diverse points which reveal this incoherence. Some Scribes and Pharisees imposed heavy laws upon the people. They knew the Laws well, but they did not practise them; neither did they use their knowledge to lessen the weight imposed upon the people. They did everything possible to be seen and praised, they wore special tunics for prayer and they liked the first places and to be greeted in the public squares. They wanted to be called “Teacher”. They represented a type of community which maintained, legitimized and nourished the difference of social classes. It legitimized the privileges of the great and the inferior position of the little ones. Now, if there is something which displeases Jesus, it is appearances which deceive.
• Matthew 23, 8-12: How to overcome the fundamental error. How should a Christian community be? All the community functions should be assumed as a service: “The greatest among you must be your servant!” You should call nobody Teacher (Rabbi), nor Father, nor Guide; because the community of Jesus has to maintain, legitimize and nourish not the differences, but rather the fraternal spirit. This is the fundamental Law: “You are all brothers and sisters!” The fraternal spirit comes from the experience that Jesus is Father, and makes of all of us brothers and sisters. “Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.”
• The group of the Pharisees! The group of the Pharisees was born in the II century before Christ, with the proposal of a more perfect observance of the Law of God, especially regarding the prescriptions on purity. They were more open to novelty than the Sadducees. For example, they accepted faith in the Resurrection and faith in the angels, something which the Sadducees did not accept. The life of the Pharisees was an exemplary witness: they prayed and studied the Law during eight hours a day; they worked eight hours in order to be able to survive; they dedicated eight hours to rest. This is the reason why people respected them very much. And in this way, they helped people to keep their own identity and not to lose it, in the course of centuries.
• The so-called Pharisaic mentality. With time, the Pharisees took hold of power and no longer listened to the appeals of the people, nor did they allow them to speak. The word “Pharisee” means “separated”. Their observance was so strict and rigorous that they separated themselves from the rest of the people. This is why they were called “separated”. From this comes the expression “pharisaic mentality”. It is typical of the persons who think to obtain justice through the rigid and rigorous observance of the Law. Generally, they are persons who are afraid, who do not have the courage to assume the risk of liberty and of the responsibility. They hide themselves behind the Law and the authority. When these persons obtain an important function, they become harsh and insensitive and indifferent to hide their own imperfection.
• Rabbi, Guide, Teacher, Father. These are four titles that Jesus prohibits people to use. Today, in Church, the priests are called “Father”. Many study in the University of the Church and obtain the title of “Doctor” (Teacher). Many persons receive spiritual direction and take advice from persons who are called “Spiritual directors” (Guides). What is important is to take into account the reason which impelled Jesus to prohibit the use of these titles. If these were used by persons in order to affirm their position of authority and their power, these persons would be in error and would be criticized by Jesus. If these titles were used to nourish and deepen the fraternal spirit and service, they would not be criticized by Jesus.
• In reading this text, which is strongly contrary to the one of the Pharisees, we have to be very attentive so as not to be unjust against the Jewish People. We Christians, for centuries, have had attitudes against the Jews and, for this reason, against the Christians. What is important in meditating these texts is to discover their objective. Jesus condemns the lack of coherence and of sincerity in the relationship with God and with the neighbour. He is speaking about hypocrisy, that of yesterday as well as that of today, of our hypocrisy!
• Matthew 23, 1-3: The basic error: they say, but they do not do. Jesus addresses himself to the multitude and to the disciples and criticizes the Scribes and the Pharisees. The reason for attacking them is the incoherence between their words and their acts. They speak but they do not do. Jesus recognizes the authority and the knowledge of the Scribes “The Scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses! You must, therefore, do and observe what they tell you, but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practice what they preach”.
• Matthew 23, 4-7: The fundamental error is manifested in diverse ways. The fundamental error is incoherence: “They say, but they do not do”. Jesus enumerates the diverse points which reveal this incoherence. Some Scribes and Pharisees imposed heavy laws upon the people. They knew the Laws well, but they did not practise them; neither did they use their knowledge to lessen the weight imposed upon the people. They did everything possible to be seen and praised, they wore special tunics for prayer and they liked the first places and to be greeted in the public squares. They wanted to be called “Teacher”. They represented a type of community which maintained, legitimized and nourished the difference of social classes. It legitimized the privileges of the great and the inferior position of the little ones. Now, if there is something which displeases Jesus, it is appearances which deceive.
• Matthew 23, 8-12: How to overcome the fundamental error. How should a Christian community be? All the community functions should be assumed as a service: “The greatest among you must be your servant!” You should call nobody Teacher (Rabbi), nor Father, nor Guide; because the community of Jesus has to maintain, legitimize and nourish not the differences, but rather the fraternal spirit. This is the fundamental Law: “You are all brothers and sisters!” The fraternal spirit comes from the experience that Jesus is Father, and makes of all of us brothers and sisters. “Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.”
• The group of the Pharisees! The group of the Pharisees was born in the II century before Christ, with the proposal of a more perfect observance of the Law of God, especially regarding the prescriptions on purity. They were more open to novelty than the Sadducees. For example, they accepted faith in the Resurrection and faith in the angels, something which the Sadducees did not accept. The life of the Pharisees was an exemplary witness: they prayed and studied the Law during eight hours a day; they worked eight hours in order to be able to survive; they dedicated eight hours to rest. This is the reason why people respected them very much. And in this way, they helped people to keep their own identity and not to lose it, in the course of centuries.
• The so-called Pharisaic mentality. With time, the Pharisees took hold of power and no longer listened to the appeals of the people, nor did they allow them to speak. The word “Pharisee” means “separated”. Their observance was so strict and rigorous that they separated themselves from the rest of the people. This is why they were called “separated”. From this comes the expression “pharisaic mentality”. It is typical of the persons who think to obtain justice through the rigid and rigorous observance of the Law. Generally, they are persons who are afraid, who do not have the courage to assume the risk of liberty and of the responsibility. They hide themselves behind the Law and the authority. When these persons obtain an important function, they become harsh and insensitive and indifferent to hide their own imperfection.
• Rabbi, Guide, Teacher, Father. These are four titles that Jesus prohibits people to use. Today, in Church, the priests are called “Father”. Many study in the University of the Church and obtain the title of “Doctor” (Teacher). Many persons receive spiritual direction and take advice from persons who are called “Spiritual directors” (Guides). What is important is to take into account the reason which impelled Jesus to prohibit the use of these titles. If these were used by persons in order to affirm their position of authority and their power, these persons would be in error and would be criticized by Jesus. If these titles were used to nourish and deepen the fraternal spirit and service, they would not be criticized by Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Which is my reason for living and
working in community?
• How does the community help me to correct and to improve my motivations?
• How does the community help me to correct and to improve my motivations?
5) Concluding Prayer
I am listening.
What is God's message?
Yahweh's message is peace for his people,
for his faithful, if only they renounce their folly. (Ps 85,8)
What is God's message?
Yahweh's message is peace for his people,
for his faithful, if only they renounce their folly. (Ps 85,8)
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