“Watch Your Step, Please” by Sam Miller

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing, I will make a curse. You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; Have we not all the one father? Has not the one God created us? Malachi 2:1b-2a, 8a, 10a

In you, Lord, I have found my peace. Psalm 131

…” In receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2: 13a

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice… All their works are performed to be seen… Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Matthew 23: 2, 3, 5a, 9-11

Piety

In you, Lord, I have found my peace. Amen!

Study

Have you ever played “Follow the Leader” and become so bound up in remembering what the leader did that you got lost altogether? Okay, so since I mentioned it, I might as well “own” it. I’ve even missed a change in the leader due to my inattention.

Point is, from the Malachi reading, the Priests knew they had turned aside from the way, and caused many to lose their direction, under the Priests’ instruction! Go figure! The Priests, the leaders, the learned! In the Gospel, the Pharisees, having taken their seat on the chair of Moses, had to know “the law”!! They taught the law, they enforced the law, but they did not rightly apply the law to themselves. They just performed works for the show!!! By me, in both instances, the Priests and the Pharisees needed to also heed the end of the Gospel. …”The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Action

To hear and receive the word of God, not as a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God and let it work in me to keep me on the right Way and set a good example! Lord, grant that I may be a servant to all.