Breaking the Word

2^nd week in Lent, Tuesday – 15^th March 2022 – Mt 23,1-12

To Be a Different Leader

Jesus criticizes those leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, who do not walk the talk. He makes three points about their hypocrisy. Firstly, ‘they say but do not do’, which means that there was no consonance between their words and actions. They did not act on their words. Secondly, ‘they burden while failing to act themselves’, which means that they lay law upon law on the people and make life so much more complicated than it really is. Thirdly, ‘they act to be seen by men’, which means they make an impression on others. This they did by wearing broader phylacteries. The ‘tassels’ were attached to the prayer shawls, and the most important seats in the synagogue refer to the place of honour at the front facing the congregation, occupied by teachers and respected by leaders.  The scribes and Pharisees wanted to be noticed, commended and honoured more than to pray. In contrast, the disciples of Jesus ought not to go for external titles and higher distinction. They should avoid thinking that they are better than others and deserving special titles of respect. They were to be one in God and serve him alone, like Jesus the master and teacher. Authority and leadership were to be expressed in selfless service.

2^nd week in Lent, Monday – 14^th March 2022 — Gospel: Lk 6,36-38

Setting our Standards High

Jesus began his teaching with a telling phrase: just as. He invites us to be merciful, but not according to our own standards. He himself is that standard. For example, in the Old Testament, the chosen people reverted to make themselves as standard in their journey to the promised land. They constantly vacillated between following the Lord, who had chosen them and was teaching them to be his own, to looking for other gods that they could shape according to their own image. In the New Testament, we see this same tendency among the twelve apostles. The other ten were angry with James and John, for seeking seats of honour beside Jesus because the two brothers asked for it before they did (Mk 10,35). The standard that Jesus came to reveal puts our human tendencies in their place. God himself is the measure. We are not called to forgive just once or twice, but as God forgives us (Mt 18,2!). We are called to give, to measure out to others, with the very measure of God; not by judging others, which leads to condemnation, but with an open, generous heart that gives forgiveness and mercy.