2nd March, Tuesday.- Is 1: 10, 16-20
Mt 23: 1-12
Theme: To be practical
Today’s readings teach us another
important lesson for the Lenten season. We must practice what we preach and
preach what we practice. In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah speaks in God’s
name and warns the Jewish people that they must cease doing evil and learn to
do good. The church urges us today to take his message in our hearts for the
betterment of our lives. In the gospel reading, we hear that Jesus warns
against the hypocritical life of the Pharisees and the scribes. Jesus
criticizes the Pharisees several times for not doing what they preach. Since
their preaching and teaching are authentic and trustworthy, people are told to
observe whatever they said but not what they did, because they did not practice
what they taught and preached. Jesus’ denunciation of the Pharisees was right
because some of them became a heavy burden and stumbling black for others. They
imposed such heavy laws on weak people but gave no help in the carrying of the
load. Since they sat on the seat of Moses, therefore they were to be obeyed.
But their deeds were not according to the law and not to be emulated. Lord
since we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus, we are your children, and you
are our Father, and cut ourselves off from the brotherhood. As a result, we
become miserable. The only way to come back to our senses is to reflect on how
much God loved the world that he gave his only son and sent him into the world,
not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. And
God is the only Father, Christ the only master, and all of us brothers and
sisters. This is the basis of human brotherhood, and there is no other,
therefore before you all are equal and if there is anyone who considers himself
the greatest among us, he must be the servant of all. So, that by humbling
ourselves we may be exalted.
Bro. Prakash Horo
SMM
II BTh