Doing Good For God
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 23: 1-12 - Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and Pharises 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. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation Rabbi. As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 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. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“All their works are performed to be seen.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
When we read the Gospels, it is natural to react against the sins and injustices of some of the people mentioned in its stories. Certainly, we react this way to the Pharisees. And this is good, because we should hate sin and fight against injustice. But when we read the Gospels, we should make sure that we don’t see sin and injustice only as other people’s problems. We each struggle with sin and injustice ourselves. We need to see ourselves not only in the good characters in the Gospels, but in the sinners as well.
There is a particular fault that Jesus brings up in today’s Gospel that most of us, just like the Pharisees, are guilty of. Jesus is pointing out that the Pharisees perform good works not because they love God or others, but so that other people will notice and think highly of them. Their reason for doing what appears to be good is not really to help others, it is really to help themselves. We have to be careful with our intentions also. We have to make sure that our good works aren’t really selfish works in disguise. In prayer let’s examine our consciences and think about recent occasions where we were supposed to be doing good for God or others. Have we ever secretly hoped that people would notice our good deeds and give us some praise? Then let us apologize to God for using good as a stepping stool for our own selfish pride.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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