Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)
A famous American novelist once stipulated the most
important thing a good writer must have.
It wasn’t a computer or even a library.
No, according to this Nobel laureate, a good writer must have a
built-in, fool-proof “crap detector.”
Good writers Know they are writing about. They are not fooled by things with impressive
covers but lacking content. They can
tell what is true and what is false, what is right and what is wrong. In today’s gospel Jesus shows the ability to
be a good writer.
Jesus is criticizing religious rigorists who are prominent
in any age. He faults them for wanting
to be respected as learned and holy when they show little interest in God’s
concern. They do not make justice their
aim as Isaiah says people must in today’s first reading. Jesus tells his followers to be wary of such
pretenders. He wants his disciples to
eschew titles of honor. Rather they should
want to be known simply as “brother” or “sister.”
Many of us are concerned about being perceived as caring and
intelligent. We like to be called
“doctor” or “father” or “professor” or “nurse.”
Are we defying Jesus’ lesson here?
Perhaps not if our true aim is to serve well. We might ask ourselves if we live in accord with
the professional ethic that our title implies.
