REFLECTIONS TODAY
Chapter 23 of Matthew contains Jesus’ denunciation of the scribes and the Pharisees which reflects Jesus’ conflicts with the Jewish leaders in his time and the tenuous relationship of the Matthean community with the Jews who did not believe in Jesus.
The scribes and the Pharisees are worthy of people’s respect because of their knowledge of the Law of Moses, but they make it a heavy burden to carry because of their overly strict interpretation of it. Moreover, their obedience to the Law is pretentious, designed more to earn the praise of people. They teach, but they do not practice what they teach. That is why Jesus warns his disciples not to imitate them.
This is what we need to do today: the living out of our faith. Our words often remain as mere words. We do not practice what we preach. We love to speak and post about love, truth, and justice for all in our social media. And yet we still tolerate and even support what is wrong, deceptive, and violent in our society. We even weaponize and use the Scriptures for our personal interests—to make profit, to defend our wrong advocacies, or to get others to follow those who pretend to be God’s messengers.
God knows what our heart truly contains, and we can never hide anything from him. In the end, he asks all of us: “Come now, let us set things right” (Is 1:18).
First Reading • Is 1:10, 16-20
Hear the word of the Lord, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; but if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 50 “To the upright I will show the saving power of God.”
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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.