First Reading - Ruth 2:1-11,4:13-17
Gospel - Matthew 23:1-12
The gospel of the day can be divided into two parts: condemnation of Pharisees and Scribes and admonition to people and disciples. The first part presents the condemnation of Pharisees and Scribes by Jesus. They are denounced because of their pretentious life. Their pretentious life is seen in their preaching, clothing, desire for honour and respect. Jesus warns people not to be carried away by their appearance and pretentious lifestyle.
The second part of the gospel contains admonition of Jesus to the people and his disciples - not to accept to be called rabbi, father and teacher. Why does Jesus say that? It's because this is how Pharisees and Scribes were addressed. The titles of rabbi, father and teacher were honorary titles. The titles gave them greater recognition and identity. Jesus tries to show that among the people or Christians equality and brotherhood must prevail rather than superiority and distinctive categories. Jesus envisages a community of believers who are united in love and brotherhood where God finds a supreme honour as the Rabbi, Father and Teacher.
Transcending the pretentious life, the first reading presents to us a genuine person in Ruth, who later becomes the grandmother of king David, who committed her life to take care of her mother-in-law in charity and love. She didn't have any duplicity nor any ulterior motive to do so but love. This is why she is chosen by God to the part of the ancestry of king David and subsequently of Jesus.
Dear friends, it is undeniable that there are times when we also become pretentious; apparently very good with others or very spiritual but in reality, our hearts remain distant from God and His ways. Why this happens with us? Perhaps we want to show ourselves superior and better than others or else we want to hide a dark side of our lives. Jesus invites us today to live our lives genuinely without any deceit or pretence. The pretence can win us admiration from people for sometimes but genuine life will win favour from God. Ruth, in the first reading, becomes an example of genuine life and Jesus, in the gospel, recommends us to live genuinely by overcoming superficiality and superiority of our lives by building a harmonious community of brotherhood among all.
We all have a dark side of our life. This dark side, St. Paul mentions this as "thorn of my flesh", shows our weaknesses and shortcomings. At times, we want to hide this side of our lives rather than try to overcome it by our constant effort. They are indeed required because they make us humble before God. They are given to us so that we may understand our brothers and sisters who fall due to their weaknesses. It's here we are able to make a community of equals with the existing bonding of love and brotherhood.
May God help us live a genuine life.
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