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:
Do you lead by example?
The principle of leadership by example is one
wherein the leader set the standards to be followed and he himself leads the
way in following the said standards. In the same manner parents should set the
benchmark in their home as they live to the hilt this benchmark for their
children to emulate.
On the other hand bad or lousy leaders would tell
their people to do this and that but they will not do what they command. They
preach the standards but they do not practice what they preach. Same as with
irresponsible parents; they would tell their children to observe this and that
discipline but the irony is they themselves do not do what they tell their
children.
The Pharisees and scribes during the time of Jesus
were the religious leaders and they were supposed to lead by example. But they
did not; they were only good on giving commands/orders but when it comes to
living it they were badly deficient.
Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the common
people of that time started to gravitate towards Jesus. Because they saw in
Jesus someone who leads by example; someone who empathized with them, someone
who ate and mingled with them; in other words Jesus lived what He
preached.
What is the lesson of our gospel for us? We
must always be true with our words and actions. We must not be like the
Pharisees and scribes in our gospel: For they were only good at preaching but
very deficient in practicing and living what they preach.
We must always be like Jesus; for He lived what He
preached in other words Jesus is always true to His words and actions. Jesus leads
by example and He walked His talk.
Do you always live what you preach and are you
always true to your words? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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