First Reading (Isaiah 1:10, 16-20)
Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Hear the word of the Lord, rulers of Sodom; listen to the teaching of our God, people of Gomorrah. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
— The word of the Lord.
— Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflecting the Word of God
Brothers and sisters, may the peace of the Lord be with you!
Today, I want to begin our reflection with a captivating hook, something we all experience in our daily lives: the experience of walking in a bustling city. Picture yourself in the midst of a crowd, streets teeming with people with their concerns, hurries, and errands. Each of us, amidst this tumult, seeks our own path, our own direction. But sometimes, we get lost in this urban jungle, and we need guidance, a guide to show us the right way.
That’s precisely what we find in the Sacred Scriptures, in the biblical passages we will meditate on today. In the First Reading, from the book of Isaiah (Is 1:10, 16-20), we are invited to listen to the voice of God, who calls us to conversion. God speaks to us through the prophet, saying: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes”.
This message resonates in our hearts as a call to purify ourselves, to free ourselves from the impurities that distance us from God. It’s as if the Lord Himself were saying to us: “Come to me, forsake sin, purify yourselves, and experience my transforming grace”.
However, many times, we are like the people described in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 23:1-12), whom Jesus reproves for seeking glory and prominence. Jesus teaches us that we should be humble, that we should place ourselves last, serving others with love and selflessness.
Imagine, brothers and sisters, if all of us, as we walk through this bustling city, sought to put ourselves last, serving one another. It would be as if each of us were a light in the darkness, showing the right way, guiding the lost back to God.
To illustrate this principle, let me tell you a story. There was once a man who felt lost in his life, directionless, purposeless. One day, he encountered a beggar in the street, who was hungry and cold. This man, despite his own problems, felt compassion and decided to help the beggar. He took him to his home, gave him food, clothes, and a place to stay.
Over time, this man began to realize that by helping the beggar, he himself found meaning in his life. He discovered that the true path to happiness lay in serving others, in putting others’ needs above his own.
This story shows us how humility and service can transform our lives. When we put ourselves last, when we empty ourselves of selfishness and pride, we make room for God’s grace to flow through us. And it is this grace that purifies us, that enables us to wash away the impurities of sin and draw closer to God.
Brothers and sisters, in the face of these biblical passages, we are challenged to reflect on our own lives. Are we seeking the glory of the world, or are we willing to place ourselves last, to serve others with love?
We need to ask ourselves: Where is our heart? Are we willing to forsake sin and purify ourselves before God? Or are we trapped in our own ambitions, seeking only human recognition?
I want to encourage you to bring these spiritual truths into the reality of your daily lives. Look around you and see the needs of others. Ask yourselves: How can I serve? How can I be a light in the darkness?
Remember the story of the man and the beggar. Each of us has the ability to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s just one person. Every act of kindness, every gesture of service, can be a step towards transforming the world.
And don’t think that these actions will go unnoticed. Jesus assures us that those who humble themselves will be exalted, that those who place themselves last will be first in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Imagine the impact we can have on our city, our neighborhood, our community, if each of us commits to living by these principles. We would be a living church, radiant with love and service, a beacon of hope in the midst of darkness.
To make these concepts more tangible, let me bring some metaphors and practical examples. Just as a tree roots itself in the soil to receive the nutrients necessary for its growth, we need to root ourselves in God, seeking our strength and inspiration from Him. And, like a fruit-bearing tree that gives its fruits to feed others, we too must offer the fruits of our actions to nourish the souls of those around us.
You may wonder: how can I apply these principles in my daily life? Let me give you some practical guidance. First, seek moments of silence and prayer in your daily routine. It is in these moments that we connect with God, that we purify ourselves and find the direction we need.
Second, be attentive to the needs of others. Look around you and see who is suffering, who needs help. Do not ignore these opportunities to serve. Be like the good Samaritan, who reached out to help the fallen man by the roadside.
Finally, remember that humility is the key to living out these principles. Do not seek glory for yourselves, but rather the glory of God. Acknowledge that everything you have comes from Him, and be grateful for it.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we have been called to listen to the voice of God, to purify ourselves, and to seek humility and service. May these words not just remain in our ears, but become action in our lives.
May we be like that bustling city, where each of us is a light that illuminates the path for others. May we be a living example of God’s love, of the transforming grace He offers to us all.
May humility and service be the distinctive marks of our community, so that the world may see and recognize the presence of God in us.
May the grace, love, and divine hope accompany us at every step of our journey, strengthening us and enabling us to live according to the teachings of the Scriptures.
So be it. Amen!
