"Christ is the only Leader."

The Lord speaks to the crowds and disciples, to warn them about the Pharisees.

we must be careful not to think that the Lord is always talking

about ‘others, He also speaks to us.

 

 

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor

In the person of Christ, a man has not become God; God has become man.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

Hear the warning of the Lord,

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 have sat down on the chair 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 lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people:

they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels.

 

They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like 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 ：

Reflection:

"Christ is the only Leader."

There are many different models of leadership, from dictatorial to indecisive.

However, Christ teaches us that leaders are not to see themselves as the most important in the group.

Rather, Christ teaches us about integrity and service in leadership. In contrast, he points to the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.

 

They like to be noticed and praised as the most important and the most holy,

and yet they do not live up to the standards they set for others. Christ teaches us that true leadership looks to the welfare of others,

is humble and outward-looking rather than being self-obsessed. It is a humble leadership,

because it acknowledges that "Christ is the only Leader," and so all our activity is to be done in union with him.

 

Christ is the only Leader, and before him we are all "fellow-servants," says Saint Cyril of Jerusalem.

We are therefore bound to help and forgive one another rather than use others to reach our goal.

"Let the greatest among you be the servant of all," says Jesus.