Breaking the Word

20^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 20^th August 2022 — Gospel:    Mt 23,1-12

Humility

Jesus shares many of the concerns of the official teachers of the Torah. He points out several ways that their example is inconsistent with their teaching and cautions his disciples not to reproduce. Jesus then forbids the pretentious use of honorific titles among them. He reminds the crowd, and His disciples, that their focus should not be selfishly on themselves but on the one who is the true Teacher, loving Father, and true Master. Any ostentatious greetings, like ‘rabbi’, ‘father’, or ‘instructor’ that express a relationship of status and power are inappropriate for his followers. They must look to God as the source of their importance. Their focus should not be ego-centric, but God-centric. Jesus alternates their attitude with a virtue of humility. Humility, not arrogance, should characterize discipleship. We are called to be humble, that is not thinking less of ourselves (putting down who we are in God’s sight) but thinking of ourselves less often (and of others more often).

20^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 19^th August 2022 — Gospel: Mt 22,34-40

Putting to Test

The Pharisees heard that Jesus had ended the prior exchange with the Sadducees by silencing them. His answer was so clear, correct, and profound, they had nothing left to stay. The Pharisees and Sadducees were rivals and known to have debated with Jesus many issues. He tactfully answered their tricky questions about taxes, marriage, resurrection, and the Law of Moses. Jesus’ ability to silence them with His wisdom, logic and revelation have prompted the Pharisee to ask him a question to “test” (Mt 22:35). He is a lawyer, someone most educated and well versed in Scripture and the traditions. Putting someone to “test” is an expression of pride, when one’s status is challenged. Lawyer questions Jesus’ authority, as one who had not formally studied, held no degrees, and came from an obscure Galilean town. Jesus answers contrary to his expectations, blending both Love of God and Love of neighbor. However, anger or resentment is rooted in his questioning. It is Pharisee’s pride that dared to put God to the test.