Do What I Say

In this Gospel, the Lord corrects us and draws our attention to three things.

The first concerns the inconsistency between what we say and what we do. We must be careful not to demand more of our spouse than we demand of ourselves, simply because we are the one who brings the money home, or because we have a better job, or because we are more eloquent… Our example gives our words credibility. The greatest gift a spouse and a parent can give to their husband or wife, or to their child, is their own conversion, because words may convince to some extent, but example speaks far more powerfully.

The second correction concerns vanity. Why do I do the things I do? Why do I want to be a catechism teacher? Or coordinate a retreat? Or lead a retreat? If it is in order to receive recognition, we need to be careful, because we would be turning ourselves into the end rather than allowing the Lord to use us as a means for others.

The third correction is about not becoming insensitive to the gifts we have received from God. Let us not allow ourselves to be called teachers, because only God is the Teacher. We are His instruments. We are what we are through God’s calling and entrustment.

At the end of the passage, He shows us the way: humility, as the light that helps us overcome our own Phariseeism.

Brought Down to Married Life

Lucy: John, I’ve realised something… We love going on retreats, sharing our testimony and being seen as a committed married couple, but when we get home, we keep falling back into the same attitudes.

John: Yes, darling. Sometimes we care more about appearing to be an exemplary married couple than about allowing God to truly transform our hearts.

Lucy: Jesus says to us today: «They do everything so that people will see them». Perhaps we seek recognition more than our union with Christ.

John: And we can even demand from other married couples what we ourselves are not yet living, placing burdens on them that we are not willing to carry ourselves.

Lucy: John, everything we have received through the retreats should help us to love each other more, not to feed our image.

John: Then our true retreat begins here, when we return home and choose to listen to each other, forgive each other, make sacrifices and serve one another.

Lucy: You’re right, John. I do not want people to admire us. I want them, even in the midst of our weaknesses, to be able to discover that Christ is transforming our marriage.

John: Neither do I, darling. Because true greatness does not lie in people seeing us, but in Jesus being seen in the way we love one another.

Mother,

Teach us to be humble like You, so that God may grow in our hearts.

Blessed and praised be You for ever, Lord.