Gospel: March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025 (Tuesday)
2nd Sunday of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor
Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23
To the upright, I will show the saving power of God.
1st Reading: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people. But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.
Reflection:
“Christ is the only leader.”
There are many different models of leadership, from dictatorial to indecisive. However, Christ teaches us that leaders are not to see themselves as the most important in the group. Rather, Christ teaches us about integrity and service in leadership. In contrast, he points to the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They like to be noticed and praised as the most important and the most holy, and yet they do not live up to the standards they set for others. Christ teaches us that true leadership looks
to the welfare of others, is humble and outward-looking rather than being self-obsessed. It is a humble leadership, because it acknowledges that “Christ is the only Leader,” and so all our activity is to be done in union with him. Christ is the only Leader, and before him we are all “fellow servants,” says Saint Cyril of Jerusalem. We are therefore bound to help and forgive one another rather than use others to reach our goal. “Let the greatest among you be the servant of all,” says Jesus.
