Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
This struck me a call to humility and an attack on clericalism and its equivalent in a secular world. What came to mind was the Prayer of St Francis. I learned it at school and here it is from memory... Apologies if I get some lines out of order :).
ReplyDeletePrayer Of St Francis
Lord make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
and where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to undersatnd.
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we recieve.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Your response to Matthew 23:1-12 effectively highlights the core message of the passage, which calls for humility and condemns the hypocrisy and self-righteousness often associated with clericalism. The Prayer of St. Francis beautifully complements this message, emphasizing the transformative power of love, compassion, and selflessness.
ReplyDeleteThe prayer's opening lines, "Lord make me an instrument of your peace," set the tone for a life dedicated to spreading peace and harmony. The juxtaposition of opposites, such as "hatred" and "love," "injury" and "pardon," and "darkness" and "light," underscores the transformative power of these virtues.
The subsequent lines, "O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console," shift the focus from seeking personal gratification to serving others. The desire to understand rather than be understood, to love rather than be loved, embodies the essence of humility and selfless service.
The concluding lines, "For it is in giving that we receive," "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned," and "It is in dying that we are born to eternal life," encapsulate the profound truths of the Christian faith. By giving selflessly, we open ourselves to receive more abundantly. By pardoning others, we find forgiveness for ourselves. And by letting go of our ego-driven attachments, we embrace true life in its fullness.
Overall, your response effectively connects Matthew 23:1-12 with the Prayer of St. Francis, demonstrating the unifying themes of humility, compassion, and selfless service that lie at the heart of both the biblical passage and the prayer.