Wednesday, December 8
Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Phylacteries and Fringes
This should be a difficult text for Episcopalians, particularly for the clergy. We generally like to dress up, and we are often given seats of honor. We have exchanged phylacteries and fringes for collars, but we still stand out in a crowd. We are called mother or father, and one of our primary roles is that of a teacher. All of this should give us pause and invite us to reflect on how these practices shape our soul, our life, and our ministries. I’ll leave it at that.
If we can get past reducing this text to a proverb: “Do as I say, not as I do.” and get past the all too apparent challenges to Episcopal piety, we can hear the two great commandments upon which the ministry of Jesus is founded: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
I don’t believe that anyone who tries to love God and their neighbor intentionally sets out to make themselves an idol. I think that this happens over time as we gradually lose focus. Phylacteries and fringes started out as a reminder of the most important aspects of faith. However, phylacteries and fringes are easily seen. God is not. I don’t believe that faithful people start out seeking recognition, but I do think that recognition is an addictive distraction and that we oftentimes use it as a measure of success, and it can feed the emptiness within us.
Bishop Claude Payne used to say, “Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.” That’s what I hear Jesus saying. His words in Matthew 23 provide practical focus for those who seek to love God and to love our neighbor. In order to love God above all things, we must love our neighbors as ourselves. In order to love God above all things, we cannot love God as ourselves.
Laying aside the incidentals, we should endeavor to expand our “contact lists” and allow our lives to be affected by those we don’t know, but are called to love. I have little doubt that Jesus held the words of the prophet Micah in his heart when he spoke: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Come Lord Jesus!
The Rev. Dr. Mark Story
Rector, St. Mary’s, Edmond
Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma