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Gospel: Matthew 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 Gospel of the Lord.
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The only group Jesus criticizes in the Gospels are the religious authorities of his day, because they turned religion into a matter of rules, which could be followed without ever invoking the heart. For some, religion had become strictly an external affair.
“All their works are performed to be seen,” Jesus laments.
“They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets and seats of honor in synagogues.”
This temptation to appear religious – or to simply follow the “rules” – is timeless. Catholics can certainly be guilty of falling into it during Lent.
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The Church instructs us to pray, fast, and give alms. We can do all of these things without ever changing our heart.
We can avoid meat on Fridays while still harboring a grudge.
We can write a check without ever seeking contact with the poor.
We can pray for strangers while remaining estranged from loved ones. (This does not mean that we need to force reconciliation; rather, our hearts should be open and void of all negativity).
Missing a meal or checking a box will not turn us into Saints. We must walk the path of humility and love in order to please the Lord.
As the Lord cries out through the prophet Isaiah in our first reading, “Wash yourselves clean! [That is a matter of the heart.] Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.”
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If we allow God to change our heart, then we will be holy and pleasing in his sight.
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Image credits: (1) uCatholic (2) TableTalk Magazine (3) Compelled Church Women’s Ministry, WordPress