31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
STOP IMITATING
The mother of a young man
expelled from university for having maligned and destroyed the name
of his teachers turned to the young man and said: Didn't I tell you
to stop imitating Vice Ganda (a comedian known for his sarcasm and
disrespect for others)? Now, this is where idolizing him led you!
Another young person who
was being reprimanded by his elders for cursing another young person
on social media reasoned out: If the president of the Philippines can
curse, then why can't I do the same?
The gospel today derives
from the part of Matthew's writing against the Pharisees. The entire
chapter is so hostile, our selection today (Mt 23:1-12) only gives
the first part. It is clear in the Lord's words that he maintains a
respect for the office of the scribes and Pharisees, recognized as
vital institutions in Israel. But the Lord cautions his listeners
against following the examples of these religious leaders. Their
teachings are sound and based on the tradition of Israel and of
Judaism, but their actions do not support their words.
It is important for us to
realize that those in position to lead and guide are both powerful
and influential. They are powerful because they can directly dictate
how others should act. They are influential because they subtly
affect the mentality and attitudes of the people they govern. The
Lord Jesus saw only insincerity and pretentiousness in his
adversaries' characters. Remember that prior to this chapter, the
Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with tricky questions in order to pin
him down once he makes a mistake. The Pharisees and scribes wanted to
destroy Jesus and to do this, they tried to influence people to
espouse their own hatred and animosity.
Jesus invites us to
imitate not human personalities, however attractive and interesting
they may be. Instead, we must focus our attention only on One
Teacher, One Master, One Father. But in this age of social
conditioning, do we not have idols after whom we pattern our words
and action? Who are the people we believe we should listen to, admire
and follow? Are they worth our adulation and imitation?
As Christians we need to
follow only the words and example of God that comes to us in the life
and teachings of his Son Jesus the Christ.
