“If you have read the Bible, you’ll know that you don’t need to go to Mass anymore,” my relative said. Knowing him, it would be pointless to discuss the issue, but I felt that this time, I had to say something. A sudden inspiration hit me and words just flowed out from my mouth. Surprisingly, he didn’t argue with me.

       One senior agent in an insurance company said that we should never criticize what insurance plan a prospective client owned or considered buying from a competitor. Doing so appears to be an attack on the person rather than on the product she bought, thus losing not only the sale but the respect of the client as well. That was how I felt when my relative questioned our faith practices. Instead of winning us over to his side, the more he lost us.

       Jesus exposed the hypocritical attitude of the religious leaders. These leaders knew the Scriptures but didn’t live by them. They were more concerned with their outward show of piety than putting the people’s interests above their own.

       Our actions must match our beliefs. Let love be our guiding principle in the exercise of our faith. For God is love and that is what all of Scripture tells us about. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “What is the most important subject you have to learn in life? To learn how to love. And this is the challenge that life offers you.” (Pope Francis)

Lord, grant me the grace to love and be patient with those who attack my beliefs for they, too, are Your children.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, abbot and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

For St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we celebrate today, the glory of God is found in the totally gratuitous and unconditional nature of His love for people. His series of sermons about the Song of Songs is unmatched in the Church. Bernard experienced the love of God in his life and has no qualms about sharing his knowledge with us.

Ezekiel 43:1-7

1 The angel led me to the gate which faces the east, 2 and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 The vision was like that which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar. I fell prone 4 as the glory of the Lord entered the temple by way of the gate which faces the east, 5 but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court. And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord. 6 Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man stood beside me. 7 The voice said to me: Son of man, this is where my throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of my feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.

Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord — for he proclaims peace. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

St. Bernard of Clairvaux placed the Cistercian reform of the Benedictine Order on the map. His preaching prowess was unrivaled in his time and men flocked around him to join his congregation. He has probably established more new monasteries than any other figure in the history of the Church, yet he remained unaffected by his fame. He was truly a humble man who gave all glory to Jesus.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ.

Matthew 23:1-12

1 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 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 hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 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 Christ. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

think: St. Bernard of Clairvaux was truly a humble man who gave all glory to Jesus.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 17-20  

LEGALISM VS. LOVE

Pharisees have gotten a bad press. If you want to hurt a person who seems to pretend to be “holier than thou,” you call him a Pharisee. If somebody acts in a very legalistic way, you call him a Pharisee. And whose fault is it that the word Pharisee is used in a negative way? The answer is in Matthew Chapter 23. I sometimes call it “most unchristian chapter in the New Testament.” The evangelist portrays Jesus as lambasting the Pharisees without mercy, so much so that many ask whether He really said what is written there. Actually, not all Pharisees were legalistic hypocrites. We know that Jesus had friends among the Pharisees. Yes, there were those whose behavior was so bad that Jesus was very frank in attacking their attitude, but we should never generalize.

       A rabbi once told me that as a successor of the Pharisees, he feels hurt by the words of Jesus because most Pharisees were very pious people and loyal to God and His commandments.

     To understand this chapter properly, we have to remember that Matthew’s whole approach to Scripture is to interpret it on the basis of the commandments of love. Compassion and love dictate the way Scripture should apply, not a kind of legalistic bureaucracy which assumes God is a control freak. Throughout history we can find many examples of destructiveness done in the name of Scripture or even by means of Scripture. And that is what Matthew wants his community to avoid. The Gospels show us several times how Jesus reinterpreted the Scriptures, stressing always love and compassion. We find Jesus, to the horror of certain scribes and Pharisees, violating the Sabbath law. He makes it clear that the spirit of the law is love and when that is violated, Jesus reacts quite strongly.

       This is also an important lesson for us. We cannot hide behind laws and pious outward gestures and neglect the basic teaching of Jesus: the inseparable love of God and neighbor. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you at times think that following a law while ignoring love of neighbor makes you look good in the eyes of God?

Lord, let me never forget Your love and compassion for me. Help me to love others with the same. Amen.