Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 23, 1- 12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
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.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Tying heavy burdens

1. Seeking recognition. There’s always that temptation of wanting recognition or a position of power. But it’s one thing to earn it through your merits, and another entirely to seek it by destroying or simply wearing others down. In every field (religious, professional, etc.), there are people who look for ways to gain positions. I once dealt with a community member who always aimed for high-ranking roles. When I tried to replace her, she’d just find another place to take on leadership duties. When she no longer had any position in the parish church, she sought to be a delegate in the Deanery, and when she was removed from the Deanery, she looked for a role at Archdiocesan level. Ultimately, when someone is constantly seeking positions, their focus might not be on what’s best for others, but rather on always appearing important, often at the expense of others, or even by destroying them. That’s why you need to be careful with these people; they’re capable of tearing others down and even disguising their true intentions just to gain or hold power.

2. Burdens. We often have to struggle with people around us who try to tie us down to them. You have to be careful. These are people who create dependency or simply make you feel guilty if you pull away a little. Remember, someone who loves you gives you freedom, but someone who uses you always looks for a way to trap and overwhelm you. Don’t let anyone tie you down or put a burden on your life.

3. Honor. Fame is not the same as honor. Some people chase fame, which means doing things just to be seen or recognized. Someone who seeks honor simply does what needs to be done, and history will remember their actions with the greatest award: never being forgotten for what they’ve done. That’s why, as Christians, we don’t aim to be famous; we aim to be honorable. Fame is fleeting, but honor is eternal.

Remember that something good is on the way! 

God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.