S. FAUSTI - "The greatest among you will be your servant" With these words of Jesus it ends the first part of chapter 23, addressed to the crowds and to the disciples - to the crowds of disciples of all times - to warn them from scribes and Pharisees. The Scribes and Pharisees, of that they spoken in all the talk, they are us, called to recognize ourselves in them. They have usurped the place of Moses, who delivered the people from slavery and brought to them the ten words of life. They also will take the place of Jesus, the gentle and humble Son of God, with gentle and light yoke,in order to impose to the community of believers heavy burdens . Jesus trasformed the water into wine. He has placed the gift of the Spirit, which gives us a new heart, that of the Son who loves as He is loved, to the external purifications of the law. But we, unknowingly, are like the dog coming back to its vomit, like the washed sow that wallow in the mud ("Pt 2.22): we replace the wine into water, substituting the Gospel with the law, or imposing It as law! This is and remains the first temptation of the Church, as the letter to the Galatians specifically testifies . It is a return from the Spirit that gives life to the letter that kills, perverting the Gospel Itself (Gal. 1.7). It's easy to swap, or at least blush, the gospel with the law! Peter also did this in Antioch as openly Paul reproached him (Gal. 11:11). Certainly not by malice or stupidity, but, as Paul says, by "hypocrisy", obviously disguised as good-tempered and pastoral care. This perversion of the Gospel into the law is a return from the Spirit to the flesh, which cuts off from the grace of Christ (Gal. 5: 4). he The laws are certainly necessary. Man without them does'nt live neither lives with the others. They are positive if they are born from the Spirit of Freedom if they come from love and lead to love, fullness of law. Otherwise, they suppress the affiliated life, abolishing diversity and alterity. Every institution, spontaneously, tends to self-conserve, focusing on itself. But whoever wants to save its life, it will lose it: only those who lose their lives for the love of the Lord they will save it! Jesus warns against the danger that the Gospel always runs in history, showing that what has happened to Israel is a constant prophecy of what is happening to us. They can not settle Gospel and law, Spirit giving life and letter that kills. The "new" law is the new heart. Love is law to itself, and it fully fulfills God's will. The pure in heart see God and they are able to understand what here and now helps to live concretely Father's love toward the brethren . "The first place in banquets" The "prominence” makes to occupy the first place: But Jesus is the last and the servant of everyone Therefore the first ones shall be the last ones , and the last ones, the first ones. God's greatness is love, and loving is to serve, with facts and in truth (1Gv3,18). In fact, Jesus is in the midst of us as the One who serves (Lc22, 27).
Reading 1 MAL 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10 A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; you have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions. Have we not all the one father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers? Responsorial Psalm PS 131:1, 2, 3
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace. Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me. R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace. O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever. R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace. Reading 2 1 THES 2:7B-9, 13
Brothers and sisters: We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. Alleluia MT 23:9B, 10B
R. Alleluia, alleluia. You have but one Father in heaven and one master, the Christ. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel MT 23:1-12
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."
S. FAUSTI - "The greatest among you will be your servant" With these words of Jesus it ends the first part of chapter 23, addressed to the crowds and to the disciples - to the crowds of disciples of all times - to warn them from scribes and Pharisees.
RispondiEliminaThe Scribes and Pharisees, of that they spoken in all the talk, they are us, called to recognize ourselves in them.
They have usurped the place of Moses, who delivered the people from slavery and brought to them the ten words of life.
They also will take the place of Jesus, the gentle and humble Son of God, with gentle and light yoke,in order to impose to the community of believers heavy burdens .
Jesus trasformed the water into wine. He has placed the gift of the Spirit, which gives us a new heart, that of the Son who loves as He is loved, to the external purifications of the law.
But we, unknowingly, are like the dog coming back to its vomit, like the washed sow that wallow in the mud ("Pt 2.22): we replace the wine into water, substituting the Gospel with the law, or imposing It as law!
This is and remains the first temptation of the Church, as the letter to the Galatians specifically testifies .
It is a return from the Spirit that gives life to the letter that kills, perverting the Gospel Itself (Gal. 1.7).
It's easy to swap, or at least blush, the gospel with the law! Peter also did this in Antioch as openly Paul reproached him (Gal. 11:11). Certainly not by malice or stupidity, but, as Paul says, by "hypocrisy", obviously disguised as good-tempered and pastoral care.
This perversion of the Gospel into the law is a return from the Spirit to the flesh, which cuts off from the grace of Christ (Gal. 5: 4). he
The laws are certainly necessary. Man without them does'nt live neither lives with the others. They are positive if they are born from the Spirit of Freedom if they come from love and lead to love, fullness of law.
Otherwise, they suppress the affiliated life, abolishing diversity and alterity.
Every institution, spontaneously, tends to self-conserve, focusing on itself.
But whoever wants to save its life, it will lose it: only those who lose their lives for the love of the Lord they will save it!
Jesus warns against the danger that the Gospel always runs in history, showing that what has happened to Israel is a constant prophecy of what is happening to us.
They can not settle Gospel and law, Spirit giving life and letter that kills.
The "new" law is the new heart.
Love is law to itself, and it fully fulfills God's will. The pure in heart see God and they are able to understand what here and now helps to live concretely Father's love toward the brethren .
"The first place in banquets" The "prominence” makes to occupy the first place:
But Jesus is the last and the servant of everyone
Therefore the first ones shall be the last ones , and the last ones, the first ones.
God's greatness is love, and loving is to serve, with facts and in truth (1Gv3,18).
In fact, Jesus is in the midst of us as the One who serves (Lc22, 27).
Reading 1 MAL 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10
RispondiEliminaA great King am I, says the LORD of hosts,
and my name will be feared among the nations.
And now, O priests, this commandment is for you:
If you do not listen,
if you do not lay it to heart,
to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts,
I will send a curse upon you
and of your blessing I will make a curse.
You have turned aside from the way,
and have caused many to falter by your instruction;
you have made void the covenant of Levi,
says the LORD of hosts.
I, therefore, have made you contemptible
and base before all the people,
since you do not keep my ways,
but show partiality in your decisions.
Have we not all the one father?
Has not the one God created us?
Why then do we break faith with one another,
violating the covenant of our fathers?
Responsorial Psalm PS 131:1, 2, 3
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
Reading 2 1 THES 2:7B-9, 13
Brothers and sisters:
We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.
Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,
we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,
that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,
you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.
Alleluia MT 23:9B, 10B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven
and one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 23:1-12
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."