First reading: Is 1: 10, 16-20
Hear the warning of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom. Listen to the word of God, people of Gomorrah.” Wash and make yourselves clean. Remove from my sight the evil of your deeds. Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good. Seek justice and keep in line the abusers; give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow.” “Come,” says Yahweh, “let us reason together. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they be as crimson red, they will be white as wool. If you will obey me, you will eat the goods of the earth; but if you resist and rebel, the sword will eat you instead.” Truly Yahweh has spoken.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Gospel Reading: Mt 23: 1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people. But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.
Reflection:
Today’s gospel tells us how the Pharisees observe the Commandments to be seen and appreciated by others but are not pleasing to God. This kind of hypocrisy is abhorred by Jesus. It does not please God who sees the thoughts hidden in our hearts. Many would attack Catholics because of external religious practices without true spiritual worship. The fruits of this insincerity can be seen in broken relationships, lack of vocation, and abominable crimes done by nominal Christians. Hypocrisy is a temptation that is always lurking. As followers of Christ, we must always stray away from hypocrisy in our practice of faith
