MY daily reflection and prayer:
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The Second Week of Lent
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
LET’S meditate this word of Jesus, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” What can we reflect on this word?
Jesus teaches us how to humble ourselves by serving others. Do we value our charity towards others more than we value any position of authority? Do we seek the praise of others for the good deeds we do?
He invites us to attain a higher level in our charity. We learn from his life. He did not lift himself up for others to notice. He refused to exalt himself. He is the most perfect model of our humility.
In the Gospel we read, he refused the places of honor at banquets so he sat with the tax collectors. Remember when he said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone” (Mark 10:18).
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while worshipping Jesus Christ, we learn to humble ourselves before him. We offer you our sorrow for our sins and our hopes to love him more each day.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be humble like you. We know we will never be able to be as humble as you, but we want to desire and work for the greatest degree of humility possible for us. We want to have your example always fresh in our mind so that we can keep advancing not in order to glory in our own perfection, but in order to please you and do your will alone now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
