Tuesday - Second Week of Lent

Gospel – Matthew 23:1-12

Keeping Up Appearances

Mass at Gethsemane

Almost exactly 11 years ago, my deacon-to-be classmates and myself gathered together to be fitted for our diaconal vestments.  Putting on stoles and dalmatics for essentially the first time was a wonderful and exhilarating experience; there were a lot of smiles that day as well as a bit of parading around, at least at first.  But there quickly came a sense of humility as reality began to sink in.  We were barely 2 months away from ordination as Permanent Deacons and we were fully aware that it takes so much more than a fancy vestment to make a Deacon!

Unfortunately the Pharisees in today’s Gospel missed that point!  They dress for appearances, the bigger the tassels the better, the easier to be seen and admired.  Popularity and recognition are more important than service.  Looking good rates higher than doing good.  Humility is in short supply as they focus on outward appearances instead of what is in their hearts.

And that is the challenge for us today – keeping up appearances is ultimately shallow and unfulfilling.  We live to love and serve God and our neighbor. 

How we dress matters little!  How fancy the clothes, how expensive they were! What really matters is what is going on inside, in our hearts, our soul!   How we treat others!  How we love our neighbors!  How we serve others!  How we reach out to those in need!

How we practice what we preach!

Great Spirit, help me to see life today through Your eyes!