St Louis (1214-1270) was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the death of his father Louis VIII the Lion. Louis IX was a reformer and developed French royal justice. He excelled in penance and prayer and in his love for the poor. Louis IX took an active part in the Seventh and Eighth Crusade in which he died near Carthage.

 

First Reading: (Ezek 43:1-7)

The angel brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And be­hold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the vision which I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple; and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel for ever.

 

Ps 118:29, 35

R./ The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

 

Gospel: (Mt 23:1-12) Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Phari­sees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 

Reflection:

Jesus says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever hum­bles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23: 12). One of the highlights in this highly volatile chapter of the Bible, is the number of times Jesus mentions the two groups of people, “Scribes and Pharisees”: seven in total - a biblical number for totality! Why is Jesus so outright in His condemnation and so blatant in His attacks on the Scribes and Pharisees? The reason could be summarized into one crucial point: Glorification of one’s own self at the expense of the Glory of God and the Mercy deserving for His people! It is this self-glorifying act that makes Jesus to tell, “For they preach, but they do not practise!” (Mt 23: 3b). Therefore, Jesus goes on to point out the many occa­sions when the self-interest of the Pharisees and Scribes took extreme priority over God Himself! The call, today, therefore is “to work for a cause - not applause.” Following the Great example of Jesus, may we dare to pick up the “towels” of service and kindness and live a life “clothed in humility!”