Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 25, 2018 - Saturday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezek 43:1-7ab and Matt 23:1-12]SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018 SATURDAY IN THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [Ezekiel 43:1-7a and Matthew 23:1-12] “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” [Matthew] The whole of Chapter 23 of the Gospel According to Matthew is one continual attack on the religious leadership of the Jewish community, especially the ones in Jerusalem. He concedes the authority they possess but accuses them of abuse of that authority: “For they preach but they do not practice.” Our own leadership in the Church has come under considerable criticism most recently to the point that Pope Francis has, in the last few days, addressed a letter to the whole church promising a better day. I certainly hope so. The criticism has been justified and the wounds are real and lasting. The task ahead is not just one for the leadership to get its act together, but for all of us to help them do that. Lord Acton’s dictum about the way power can corrupt remains valid. We can all pray for the renewal that Pope Francis promises in our leadership and show that renewal in our own lives as well. The Holy Spirit has a lot of work to do. AMEN [Note to the Beloved Congregation . I will be traveling part of today (Thurs) and much of tomorrow (Fri) back to Lubbock. I’ll be back on regular schedule on Saturday morning.]
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