Homily
for Tuesday
2d
Week of Lent
March
15, 2022
Matt
23: 1-12
Christian
Brothers, St. Joseph Residence, New Rochelle
“Jesus said, ‘do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example’” (Matt 23: 2-3).
Jesus
urges us his followers to be consistent in our discipleship—not only to talk
about but to practice what we believe.
Our example is the true measure of our belonging to him. Or, as Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount,
“By their fruits you will know them” (Matt 7:20).
He
goes on to command humility: not to seek
titles and honors, which is always a temptation, not to take pleasure in the
respect that others show us, which can leave us feeling smug. Rather, “The greatest among you must be your
servant” (23:11). Our true honor is in
serving our brothers and sisters. Our
satisfaction comes from imitating our Lord, who “came not to be served but to
serve” (Mark 10:45). Aren’t we most
grateful for people like our mothers who selflessly looked after us and our
siblings, and nurses who tend the sick and frail similarly?
Finally,
Jesus reminds us that, no matter if we’ve had a precious mentor or 2 in our
lives, he’s our real teacher, the one who teaches us what we really need to
know: the way to eternal life. Jesus reminds us that regardless of whom we
rightfully respect or pay homage to, our real Father is his Father, the one to
whom our ultimate allegiance belongs—not to “my country right or wrong,” not to
the Yankees or the Gaels, not even to our religious superior. We “have but one Father in heaven” (23:9).
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