Reflection for February 23, Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent; Matthew 23:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 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. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Reflection:

Who is a true follower of Jesus?

A true follower of Jesus is someone who is simple, he doesn’t   think highly of himself neither he isolates himself in an ivory tower so that others will look-up to him. A follower mingles and interacts with the people, he doesn’t throw judgment on anyone regardless who they may be.

A true follower lives and breathes humility, its part and parcel of his way of life. How then can we be humble, how then can we live and breathe humility and how then can we make it our way of life? We always have to do things with the end in mind that everything that we do we do for the greater glory of God. We don’t do things for our own glory, we don’t do things for us to be praised to high heavens.

Many of the Pharisees during Jesus time had a mentality of superiority perhaps this was because they were the ruling power. They love to give commands, they love to be looked-up and they crave for prominence and respect. Servanthood and humility was farthest from their mind.  

From time to time we need to ask ourselves, Am I a true follower of Jesus? Or I’m becoming more like the Pharisees who always seeks prominence, honor and attention. – Marino J. Dasmarinas