Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
March 15, 2022 | Tuesday

Today’s Gospel

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.

Today’s Reflection:

It is one thing to improve oneself because you have a personal picture of how you want to see yourself to be. It is also another thing to improve oneself to merely please and win the esteem of others. These similar tendencies are pointed out by Jesus when He warned his disciples to be conscious of their own motivations whenever they heed the call for holiness. Following Christ is never about striving for greatness, and if ever it is inspired by greatness, it should be the kind of greatness that is accomplished by being in genuine and constant service. We are blessed that the God that we have is not a God who evaluates our merits by the heights and ranks that we climbed, but with the depths of our humility, faith and service. /Vulnerasti, 2022