20/08/2022 | Reflection 1568 | Fr Ashil Joseph OP | Matthew 23:1-12 || DMM
DO NOT DOWNLOAD THESE VIDEOS & RE-UPLOAD THEM ON OTHER CHANNELS. YOU CAN SHARE THE LINKS. Do support us to produce these videos. If you wish to support us in our mission to spread the Word of God, kindly write to us: [email protected] or drop a WhatsApp message: +91 7559384942 There is only one teacher, who can truly call himself the teacher, who teaches what he practices and practices what he teachers, that is Jesus the eternal Word. For Jesus, his practices itself is his teaching and his life itself is his message. There is complete correspondence between what he taught and what he lived. When he taught about prayer, he himself prayed. When he taught that unless a grain of wheat falls and dies, it cannot give life, he himself laid down his life for the salvation of all. He himself became a servant, and taught the importance of being the last to be the first. Now, every other teacher who takes his place after or before him would fall short of this perfect standard, of complete correspondence between practice and word or thought. This is the result of our limitation due to sin. Hence, Jesus tells people, to listen and observe what they teach but to be slow in imitating what they do. However, this is not an excuse for those in authority whether it is a parent or a religious leader, to teach wonderful things but live a life completely opposed to it. Rather it is an invitation to examine oneself and see how wide is the contrast between theory and practice in one’s own life. And at the same time, to make enough efforts to reduce the gap with the help of God’s grace. In other words, when a teacher teaches, the prime member in the congregation whom he or she is addressing should be his or her own very self. For example, when a parent or a preacher teach their children or others to be good, that instruction is equally applicable to parents and the preacher as well. Another important point we could reflect upon is that these words of Jesus are also a warning against those who say that the life of religious leaders or parents are not matching their teaching, hence they need not follow them. Jesus tells such people, not to follow what they do, but listen and follow their instruction because they teach on behalf of Jesus the teacher. And at the same time pray for oneself and the other who is also struggling to balance both theory and practice in his or her life, that through the merits of the paschal mysteries of our Lord, we all may be able to mould our life in line with the teachings of our Lord. Like us on Facebook at / indiandominicans Website: www.dominicans.in #dominicanmediamission #DOMINICANFRIARSINDIA
