Reading 1, Is 1:10, 16-20

¹⁰ Hear what Yahweh says, you rulers of Sodom; listen to what our God teaches, you people of Gomorrah.

¹⁶ wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease doing evil.

¹⁷ Learn to do good, search for justice, discipline the violent, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

¹⁸ 'Come, let us talk this over,' says Yahweh. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth.

²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall eat you instead -- for Yahweh's mouth has spoken.'

Gospel, Mt 23:1-12

¹ Then addressing the crowds and his disciples Jesus said,

² 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.

³ You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach.

⁴ They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!

⁵ Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader headbands and longer tassels,

⁶ like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues,

⁷ being greeted respectfully in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

⁸ 'You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers.

⁹ You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.

¹⁰ Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.

¹¹ The greatest among you must be your servant.

¹² Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.

September 2010

October 2010