Did you forget something?

Stay humble. Stay focus.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 [b]saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens[c] [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 [d]All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 [e]They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 [f]As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.-Matthew23:1-12

This is true, very true. This warning of Jesus against the yeast of hypocrisy is not only for the Pharisees of His time, but also for the present religious, government, community, social and world leaders. A true leader is well-meaning and originally is selfless. However, along the way something happens where the leaders must make a decision about where they want to be. Do they want to be the leader of the people, selfless, dedicated, serving? Or, do they want to be a leader for life, living in a life of luxury, always respected, always honored, willing to take the crooked path for ambition? Sad to say, many go in the second category. Salt has lost its saltiness. Leaders lost the very essence why they are in their position, who they are, and what they are supposed to do.

I remember a story (forgive me if I cannot remember the exact location and details). There is a part of the coasts where shipwrecks are frequent. Some people decided to put up a first-aid camp to help the victims of shipwrecks. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' One of the original founders broke from this and decided to put up a first-aid camp to save the shipwrecked victims just like before. Along with some other people, it was a success because they are helping and doing what they really want to do - to care, to give shelter. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' Jesus is inviting us to be very careful against the yeast of hypocrisy, of ambition, of losing our 'saltiness,' above all, of losing our purpose. He is calling us to live in humility.

Image courtesy: artist 

Mothers!

Stay humble. Stay in focus.

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve [disciples] aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”20 Then the mother[b] of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. 21 He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.[c] Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 23 He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left [, this] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. 26 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; 27 whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. 28 Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom[d] for many.”-Matthew20:17-28

Mothers! Really! The many things a mother will do for her child. I cannot really blame the mother of James and John for asking such a request, after all, she only wants the best for her two sons. However, the kingdom of God is not according to our perceptions and expectations. It is not an Olympus or a magnificent place for the fabulous and the elite. The kingdom of God is all about love, humility, the cross, generosity, sacrifice, suffering and also joy. In the kingdom of God, the first and the great must be the servant and slave of all, willing to serve without counting the cost, willing to give up his/her life.

Image courtesy: Brooklyn Museum 

The Leaven

Watch out!

14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 [a]He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”-Mark8:14-21

What is the leaven of the Pharisees? What is the leaven of Herod? The leaven of the Pharisees are the ways that one should not imitate. Herod represents the world, and so the leaven of Herod are the worldly ways that one should not imitate. The Pharisees are not bad individuals, perhaps, they lack a few virtues to put it mildly. Herod, despite his wickedness, perhaps has a little ounce of goodness in him. Some of the leaven or the ways of the Pharisees that we should watch out for are: hypocrisy, condemning or judging others, separating ourselves from those who are not our "equal," stubbornness of heart which powers narrow-mindedness. While some of the leaven or the ways of Herod that we should watch out for are: injustice, immorality, greed for temporal goods (wealth, power, ambition and fame), disregard for holiness. The leaven of the Pharisees and Herod can be summarized into a few words only - absence or lack of love. Jesus is constantly inviting us to return to Him by shedding away the old self, and putting on the cloak of His love.

Image courtesy: artist