Do What I Say, Not What I Do

Saturday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot, Doctor
Ezekiel 43:1-7 | Psalm 84:9-14 | Matthew 23:1-12


The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. (Matthew 23:2-3)

When the people we trust turn out to have feet of clay, what do we do with what we learn from them?

When the people we look up to have been caught in flagrante delicto, do we ignore what they’ve taught us and find our own way?

When we are the ones who’ve been proven less-than-perfect, what do we expect from our children, our colleagues, our charges in faith?

Jesus makes it clear in today’s Gospel that the Word of God is perfect, more so than the people charged with upholding and disseminating it. As Christians, we have been given the task of sharing this Truth of love for God and each other; as humans, we sometimes fall short in living out this Truth ourselves.

This shortfall may result in some people discounting our words and turning away from God in a fit of “physician, heal thyself”. We can only beg forgiveness from Him for our failures, right our ships of faith, and sail on, continuing to deliver the Good News in the best way we can – by example.

Lord, we know You stumbled and fell while bearing that awful weight of Your cross. You know how we stumble and fall while bearing the easy yoke of your command to love each other as we love You and You love us, yet you’ve never given up hope in us. Help us take heart in Your trust, take courage in Your sufferings, and take heed of Your Holy Word, so that we may convince others of Your righteousness and truth. Amen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *