Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

READINGS

Gospel Matthew 23: 1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

"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.

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."

REFLECTION

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

What are phylacteries? I have heard this Gospel many times but did not know what phylacteries were? This word's origin in Latin is filacterium or phylacterium, "amulet tefellin". In the Greek form it is phylakterion "guarded place, outpost, safeguard, amulet, tefellin", and from phylakter, "guard, guardian, protector."

When I was on Pilgrimage in the Holy Land, I saw Jewish men with veils and something like a black box tied with a band of leather around their head. The box sat on their foreheads. We were in the Jewish quarter near the Wailing Wall. It was a strange sight to me. These Jewish men had just come from morning prayer.

Finally, I decided to find out what the black boxes were and discovered they are called phylacteries. I discovered that these black boxes actually contain scrolls with four scriptures from the Torah. They are to remind them of God's law which must be kept in their hearts and minds. It reminds them that the law should be a part of them.

Jesus tells his disciples not to be like the religious leaders who wear their phylactories with wide bands to be more noticeable. He explained that there is no need to show off, but to be humble.

Catholics wear religious medals, crucifixes, scapulars, and veils. Why? Do we wear them to honor God? Do we wear them for protection? Do we wear them to be seen by others as religious, or holier than others?

Are we humble? Do we serve others?

As a PAPA missionary, we "PSB - Pray, Serve, and Bless. We pray daily our PAPA Prayer for Priests. We serve by prayer, words that are encouraging, and by deeds which we do by giving time, talent, and treasure." We bless all those we meet no matter if they are ill or good. We bless everyone."(PAPA Handbook p.22)

Let us continue to live the PAPA way.

Join us in praying our PAPA Prayer for Priests.