Saturday 20th week in ordinary time
"Mt 23:1-12"
Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
The difference between Jesus and the other rabbis was that Jesus walked the talk. The scribes and Pharisees knew the theory very well. They knew and taught what had to be done... by others. Therefore people didn't follow them. You see? In the army, the usual voice of command is 'Forward!', 'Charge!' or 'Attack!' when troops are sent to engage in combat. In the current army of Israel the officer says instead: "Follow me!", because he goes in front of his men.
How powerful is the example of the Saints, more powerful than their words. British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge was an agnostic for most of his life and a Communist sympathiser during his early years. In November 1982, he explained in 'The Times' the reasons for his conversion to the Catholic Faith. He was captivated by the faithfulness of the Church to her moral teachings. He was impressed by the fact that, many times, the Church was fighting alone in her defence of moral values. But the real push to his conversion was given by a small nun, St Teresa of Calcutta, who was 'living the Gospel in real life'. "Words cannot express how much I owe her," he said in an interview. "She showed me Christianity in action. She showed me the power of love. She showed me how one loving person can start a tidal wave of love that can spread to the entire world."
We will never fully realise until we arrive in Heaven all the good that God can do with our good example as Christians in the middle of the world. We could have a whole encyclopaedia full of stories about conversions to our Faith that started with the example of a good Christian. With our clean lives, our work well done, our love and concern for others, our eagerness to serve, to promote peace (in a word, to live the Gospel) we can bring people close to God. Holy Mary, Virgin Most Prudent, help me to embody the Gospel in my daily life, to become a living Gospel for my relatives and friends.
