GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 23:1-121 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Meditation: Who doesn't desire the praise and respect of
others? We want others to see us at our best with all of our
strengths and achievements - rather than at our worst with all of
our faults and shortcomings. God sees us as we truly are - sinners
and beggars always in need of his mercy, help, and guidance. Jesus
warned the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers and rulers of
Israel, to teach and serve their people with humility and
sincerity rather than with pride and self-promotion. They went to
great lengths to draw attention to their religious status and
practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant
Jews. "See how well we observe all the ritual rules and
regulations of our religion!" In their misguided zeal for religion
they sought recognition and honor for themselves rather than for
God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a
joy for the people they were supposed to serve.
True respect for God inclines us to humble ourselves and to
submit to his wisdom and guidance. We cannot be taught by God
unless we first learn to listen to his word and then obey his
instruction.
One Father and Teacher
Was Jesus against calling anyone a rabbi, the Jewish title
for a teacher of God's word (Matthew 23:7-8), or a father?
The law of Moses in Scripture specifically instructed all fathers
to be teachers and instructors for their children to help them
understand and obey God's instructions (Deuteronomy 6:7)? Why did
Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, the religious authorities
of the Jewish people, in the presence of his disciples? Jesus
wanted to warn both his own disciples and the religious leaders
about the temptation to seek honors and titles that draw attention
to ourselves in place of God and his word. Pride tempts us to put
ourselves first above others.
The Scriptures give ample warning about the danger of
self-seeking pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a
haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). God
opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6;
Proverbs 3:24).
Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD), an early Christian teacher and
bible scholar, reminds those who teach and lead to remember that
they are first and foremost "disciples" and "servants" who sit at
the feet of their Master and Teacher the Lord Jesus Christ:
"You have one teacher, and you are all brothers to each other...Whoever ministers with the divine word does not put himself forward to be called teacher, for he knows that when he performs well it is Christ who is within him. He should only call himself servant according to the command of Christ, saying, Whoever is greater among you, let him be the servant of all."
True humility
Respect for God and for his ways inclines us to humility and to
simplicity of heart - the willing readiness to seek the one true
good who is God himself. What is the nature of true humility and why
should we embrace it as essential for our lives? We can easily
mistake humility as something demeaning or harmful to our sense of
well-being and feeling good about ourselves. True humility is not
feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or
thinking of yourself as inferior to all others. True humility frees
us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion
tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in
self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves honestly,
with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us
(Psalm 139:1-4).
A humble person makes a realistic assessment of oneself without
illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble
person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly
is. True humility frees us to be ourselves as God regards us and
to avoid falling into despair and pride. A humble person does not
want to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to
others. Such a person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame,
reputation, success, or failure. Do you know the joy of
Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?
Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues
because it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God
sees. Humility helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true
knowledge, wisdom, and an honest view of reality. It directs our
energy, zeal, and will to give ourselves to something greater than
ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others willingly
and selflessly, for their own sake, rather than for our own. Paul
the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in
the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the
form of a servant, and... who humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians
2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus loved and served
others? The Lord Jesus gives us his heart - the heart of a servant
who seeks the good of others and puts their interests first in his
care and concern for them.
Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and kindness.
Psalm 85:8-13
8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: God is our father and teacher, by Jerome(347-420 AD)
"No one should be called teacher or father except God the Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the Father, because all
things are from him. He alone is the teacher, because through him
are made all things and through him all things are reconciled to
God. But one might ask, 'Is it against this precept when the
apostle calls himself the teacher of the Gentiles? Or when, as in
colloquial speech widely found in the monasteries of Egypt and
Palestine, they call each other Father?' Remember this
distinction. It is one thing to be a father or a teacher by
nature, another to be so by generosity. For when we call a man
father and reserve the honor of his age, we may thereby be failing
to honor the Author of our own lives. One is rightly called a
teacher only from his association with the true Teacher. I repeat:
The fact that we have one God and one Son of God through nature
does not prevent others from being understood as sons of God by
adoption. Similarly this does not make the terms father and
teacher useless or prevent others from being called father."(excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW)
