Sermon

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:13).

Saint Augustine Washing the Feet of Jesus (Strozzi)

Once little Saint Jacinta, the youngest of the shepherd children who had seen visions of the Blessed Virgin in Fatima, was taken to Holy Mass and heard the sermon of a particular priest.

After the Mass, the parishioners were commenting on the beautiful sermon and the well-thought-out words of that priest.  The parishioners commented on the holiness of the priest and were impressed by his sermon.

Little Saint Jacinta, who was only six years old, and who had the gift of being able to discern the true intention of that man, told the parishioners that he was not a holy priest and he was not pleasing Our Lord.  Some short time later, the priest was removed from the parish in disgrace and the little visionary was proved right.

And I have been thinking about that today.  You see, when we consider the words of a particular person – whether they be a priest, religious, Catholic, Christian, non-Christian or anyone else – we really need to consider the intention behind those words and we also need to consider the behaviours associated with those words.  It is one thing – after all – to say all the right things so that it appears that we are pleasing to God, and quite another to actually do those things…

Christ had a particular abhorrence to people who said one thing and did another.

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.  Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.  But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:1-13).

And I have been thinking about that today.  For my actions today are as important as my words.  My deeds give light to my words.  Without my deeds then I am no better than a Pharisee and I offend Our Blessed Lord.

And I have been thinking about that today as I have been thinking about sermons.  For it seems that I have been preaching a lot of sermons of my own recently, and I just wonder if I have spent any time at all trying to improve my deeds too…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.