20th Week in Ordinary Time
26th August 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Ruth 2:1-3,8-11; 4:13-17
Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favour." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn." Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favour in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4, 5 (R. 4)
R/. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. You have one Father, who is in heaven; and you have one instructor, the Christ.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 23:1-12
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practise. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the market-places and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Hypocrisy is so distasteful!
Guidlines: Hypocrisy is one real danger that creeps into our religious practices. If we are not cautious, it can easily turn us very conceited, deceiving ourselves, and deceiving others as well{alertSuccess}
1. Jesus comes up heavily against the Pharisees and scribes on account of their hypocrisy. Their religious practices were like a body without a soul. They performed many pious activities but without a real spirit and an authentic heart.
2. Their life did not correspond to their teaching. They did not practice what they taught the people. There was a wide chasm between their creed and deed. They demanded so much from the people, which they themselves did not follow.
3. Further, they do all their observances, not with the pure intention of love for God and pleasing Him. It was with the motive of making a show, displaying their pity, and seeking applause and praise. They sought always self-glory and not God’s glory.
4. Their hypocrisy is all the more seen in their total lack of humility. They love the best seats, the best titles, the best greetings, and the best honours. They love to be addressed and honoured as a rabbi, teachers, and masters. They always seek to exalt themselves.
5. The same virus of hypocrisy is real in our case as well. It has been vigorously devouring quite many in the church, leaving aside the outside world. The steep dichotomy between what we profess and what we practice, between what we believe and what we live, is quite real. Being so lenient and indulgent toward self but being stringent and exacting toward others too, is quite real.
6. A virulent trend of seeking self-interests and self-glory, excessive craving for titles, honour, and ranks, is very true. The lack of humility is at its peak. In this context, it is exigent to bear in mind the admonition and corrective of Jesus:
7. No one is a teacher because there is only one teacher; no one is a master because there is only one master; no one is a father because there is only one father. This should make us realize that our addresses or titles or functions are not our identities.
8. We may teach but we are not teachers; we may be fathering but we are not fathers; we may master others but we are not masters. Our identity is always being children of God, servants, and followers, friends of Christ.
9. In Ruth in the first reading, we find this integrity and authenticity of life. She humbled herself and sought what pleased God. That is why, she was exalted, quite in tune with Jesus’ teaching, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Ruth was married to Boaz and becomes the mother of Obed who was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Practice: Humility and authenticity alone will make our religiosity and spirituality profound, witnessing and pleasing in the sight of God. They are the need of the hour!{alertSuccess}