THEY PREACH, BUT DO NOT PRACTICE…

Isaiah 1:10,16-20
10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil,17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Matthew 23:1-12 

1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat;3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

MEDITATION 

THE PROPHET ISAIAH is at the end of his tether for he has had enough of the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah, for these cities have become the infamous bastion where fatherlesnes and single parenting was the order of the day, because of man’s disordered lustful depravity that saw the breaking down of the nuclear family. 

Isaiah holds out an olive branch, hoping that the people would be amenable to change and have their bloody compromised soul washed clean if they abandon their stubborn rebelliousness, failing which they shall loose the lives!

THE GOSPEL READING: Having experienced, debated and seen the behavior patterns and way of life of the scribes and Pharisees who embellished the hallmarks of pomposity that gave the false appearance of piety and spiritual virtuosity, Jesus caution the Apostles to not mimic the lifestyle and conduct of these fake men. Christ do however recognize that whilst the way of life of these men contradict the ecclesiastical office disciplines and ordinances of the Torah, the Apostles must nevertheless abide by, live and uphold the authoritative teachings that emmenate from their mouths for they do occupy the seat of Moses. 

From the beginning of time man has straddled between good and evil because of the attraction of sin and lust, for we refuse to discipline our lives to fully conform and submit to God’s edicts. You see, we want to have it both ways, which is to sit at our Lord’s table and as soon as we have been fed, we depart into the night and do evil just like Judas did! Whilst it is true that many of our ecclesiastical ministers and teachers do not live according to Gods word such that they like us are no different than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we must nevertheless comply with the authoritative magisterial teachings as enumerated in the Catechism and Sacred Scripture, to extent that we humbly submit, discipline our lives and fully practice the gospel of Christ!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 50:8-9,16-17,21-23
8 I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before me.9 I will accept no bull from your house, nor he-goat from your folds.16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
21 These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.23 He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!”

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.