“Do whatever they tell you, but do not be guided by their works, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Mt. 23:1-12)

Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi from which the priests and worshippers came. Nor did He belong to a religious institution like that of the Pharisees. He was part of the people and He watched, He observed how the spiritual leaders and the institutions that constituted themselves as elite acted. Perhaps they didn’t have self-criticism among themselves because they were all living the same reality, that’s how they got used to living, and over time they lost track of what it cost people to be faithful to God

These teachings gradually lost their vitality until they became norms that placed heavy burdens on others. Jesus refers to them in this Gospel.

Let us read Pope Francis’ invitation to us in this regard in the following paragraph:

“There is no testimony without a coherent life. Today we do not need so many teachers, but courageous, convinced and convincing witnesses, witnesses who are not ashamed of the Name of Christ and of his Cross either before roaring lions or before the powers of this world, following the example of Peter and Paul and so many other witnesses throughout the history of the Church. “It is very simple: because the most effective and authentic witness consists in not contradicting with behavior and life what is preached with the word and what is taught to others.”  (Pope Francis)