＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 1: 10, 16-20

Hear the warning of Yahweh,

rulers of Sodom. Listen to the word of God,

people of Gomorrah.”  Wash and make yourselves clean. Remove from my sight the evil of your deeds. Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good. Seek justice and keep in line the abusers; give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow.”

 “Come,” says the Lord, “let us reason together. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they be as crimson red, they will be white as wool. If you will obey me, you will eat the goods of the earth; but if you resist and rebel, the sword will eat you instead.” Truly the Lord has spoken.

 

Ps 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 23: 1-12

 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do,  for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people; so they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels.  They enjoy the first place at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues,  and being greeted in the marketplace and being called ‘Master’ by the people.

 But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven.  Nor should you be called leader, because Christ is the only lead­er for you.  Let the greatest among you be the servant of all.  For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Practice what you preach. This could have been an old aphorism yet a timeless reminder of what it means to become a leader. Jesus reminds the religious leaders of his time of their real vocation which is to bring people closer to God; and it must begin with a personal witnessing of their faith. Jesus has observed that the way the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees lead their people are self-serving and a block for people to experience God.

These words of Jesus are a timely reminder for the leaders of our world today. Leadership is always related to power and often power is the pitfall for many. Some had used leadership in order to enrich themselves instead of treating it as a gift for greater service to God and His people. In our leadership practices, let us learn from Jesus who served in obedience to the Father’s will to serve. Let our integrity of life witnessing be the power to effect change in the world.