TUESDAY HOMILY OF 2ND WEEK OF LENT — YEAR A

TUESDAY HOMILY OF 2ND WEEK OF LENT — YEAR A

HOMILY THEME: The greatest among you must be your servant

BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Matthew 23:1-12

Then 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 Messiah. 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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The Gospels depict the Pharisees as the usual object of severe criticisms from Jesus. The Pharisees were a social movement and a school of thought during the time of the Second Temple Judaism. According to historical data, they numbered around 6,000 members during this period. They claimed to have the authority of Moses in their interpretation of the Jewish Laws. Although they received full support and goodwill of the people, Jesus was never impressed by them. In fact, He would usually take their example to illustrate the contrary values in His teachings.

There are two main reasons why Jesus is usually hard on them. The first reason is their pride. Everything they do is for people to see and admire. They always want to attract the attention of people. And the second reason is the natural offshoot of the first: they do not practice what they preach. In short, they are the personification of hypocrisy that Jesus abhors the most. The Dictionary even uses their name to represent the attitudes of self-righteousness and hypocrisy.

In the Gospel today, Jesus sternly warns His disciples and His listeners against the example and attitudes of the Pharisees in general. First and foremost, He warns against their hypocrisy: “Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” He also warns them against their pride and self-righteousness: “All their works are performed to be seen. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces.”

Hence, He urges all His followers to reject Pharisaism, and to become humble servants of one another: “The greatest among you must be your servant.” This is the key to true greatness. The one who serves the needs of those around him is the greatest, and not the one who has the most impressive titles, or the biggest desk, or the huge bank account.

This warning cannot be overemphasized, simply because our wounded human nature makes us vulnerable to pride and hypocrisy. Needless to say, the best antidote to these is the virtue of humility. Following Jesus is totally impossible without humility.

All the saints are fully aware of this. Thus, while the Pharisees and other self-righteous people do their utmost to be seen and admired, the saints, on the other hand, just want to remain hidden and anonymous. Hence, St. Josemaría Escrivá has this motto: “My job is to hide and disappear, so that only Jesus may shine out.”

Jesus summarizes the teaching in today’s Gospel with a paradox: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” St. Augustine said, “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

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