SECOND WEEK OF LENT ............ TUESDAY
MATHEW 23:1-12 THEY DO NOT PRACTISE WHAT THEY PREACH.
We have to respect the Church authorities and obey what they preach about the Word of God and Christian principles. But on seeing some of them who do not practise what they preach we should not get impatient or cynical and wayward in our own lives. We should always remember that we are ultimately obeying Jesus the Word of God who became flesh for our sakes and was cruelly killed on the cross to save us from our sins. The love of God should be our sole motivation for our lenten practices. In this we shall have to question ourselves whether we are being guided by the will of God properly discerned in the light of the Bible and our own prayer life and what others spiritually mature have to say about it. Sincerity, humility and love are the watch words. Mixed motives should be avoided. Actions arising from love of self and love of the world should be spurned, just as Jesus did when he was tempted in the desert. Also in Mark 1:35-39 Jesus after an early morning conversation with his Father refuses to oblige Peter or the admiring crowds but moves on to other towns in obedience to the will of God as discerned in prayer and his God given mission.
The more closer to God we come in prayer and devotion, the grace of God supervenes and the world and love of self, gradually tend to lose their attraction. When we truly humble ourselves we do not bother whether God exalts us or not. Likewise when we do good to others we do not bother whether people are grateful or not. It is closeness to God that really matters.
God Bless.
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