Today’s readings talk about the right, and the wrong, way to lead…particularly to lead people to God. In the first reading we read of the prophet Malachi taking the Jewish priests of his day to task for not being true to their faith. They were instructing the people to act in ways that benefitted themselves and were a burden on the people they were supposed to be serving. Jesus says basically the same thing to the people of His day; be obedient to the truths taught by their religious leaders, but do not act like them. The scribes and pharisees works “are performed to be seen…they love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, the salutation ‘Rabbi,’” etc. They placed heavy burdens on the people but did nothing to help them. In contrast, St. Paul speaks of his ministry as a mother providing nourishment to her newborn child.
As followers of Jesus, all of us are called to be role models; we’re called to “practice what we preach.” What types of role models are we for people seeking to find and know Jesus? Do we demonstrate the love of God to everyone we meet? Do we “preach the Gospel, using words if needed?” Do we make evident the teachings of Jesus by the things that we say and do? Or do we stand on principle, condemning and judging others for the things they say and do while ignoring our own faults? Speaking for myself, I’d say I’m a mix of both on any given day. However, Jesus makes it clear: “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” May we all strive to live up to the example and the expectation that Jesus has given us.