1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but do not practice. 4 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.
5 All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi'. 8 As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi'. You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Surely you must be thinking that while our Lord Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, the Sadducees or the Scribes in this reading who were the leaders of their church in his time, this message today is also meant for the Pharisees of today… to our bishops and priests and yes, that include pastors of the other Christian sects. Which is why I'm pretty sure that making a sermon about today's Gospel makes many priests or pastors very uncomfortable, as they may be talking about someone on their sermons, but in reality, they may just be talking about their own lives.
What Jesus told the Jews about what the Pharisees and Scribes was doing to them was something they already knew but it was our Lord Jesus who pointed out that the Pharisees had already placed burdens on them, but "do not lift a finger to move them". This, no doubt, angered the Pharisees and Scribes who planned to have Jesus killed. In a way, much of what happened then still happens today.
What Jesus says next is also very true in these times: "All their works are performed to be seen." Now that is something that a lot of people do, like give money to charity, only under the watchful eyes of the camera for publication. Now would those "charitable" people give if the press were not around? But this also happens not just to charities, but also to people's advocacies. Who doesn't know the running Priest Fr. Robert Reyes? His face is in the front page of all the newspapers almost everyday, attending prayer rallies, protest marches, yet our church teaches us not to attract attention to ourselves, but that all our actions should lead us to God.
This brings us to the last paragraph in today's reading, which says, "The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." This is our Lord's way of teaching us that we should be humble. In fact, just before the last supper, our Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples in a story that you can read in John 13: 6-8.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?"7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." 8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
In John 13: 14-17, Jesus said, "14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. 16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it."
Humility is a word missing from the vocabulary of a great number of people, especially with most politicians. No less than our Lord Jesus gives himself as an example of an act of humility, by washing the feet of his own followers. How many leaders would even think of doing this? Allow me to share with you the last paragraph on the prayer for Humility.
"That others may be loved more than I. That others may be esteemed more than I. That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease. That others may be chosen and I set aside. That others may be praised and I unnoticed. That others may be preferred to me in everything. That others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Can you try to learn and memorize this prayer? Pray the Litany of Humility and believe that this is what God wants all Christians to be! God Bless you all!