Study of the Readings
ed. by
Joyce Ann Zimmerman,
et al
• Words, Phrases
• To the point
• First Two Readings
• Experience
John Kavanaugh, SJ
This business of titles and prestige bothers me. Since I first seriously read the Gospel of Matthew the year before I was ordained, I have always been a little sheepish, not shepherdish when people call me “Father”—even though I had looked forward to the title.
John J. Pilch
Jesus’ exhortation to do what the Pharisaic scribes teach is a compliment to their expertise. They know the Scripture and interpret it well. Sadly, Scripture is not the script by which they live.
After specifically reserving the office of teaching to himself, Christ immediately went on to give as the rule of his teaching that whoever wants to be greatest should be the servant of all.
Dennis
Hamm, SJ
The whole Gospel of Matthew says the way to be faithful to the Law of Moses is to do it according to the way of Jesus—especially as expressed in the Sermon on the Mount.
Reginald H. Fuller
On the part of the listeners, preaching requires the discernment of faith, that they may hear the word of
God given in and through the human words of the preacher, and prayer that the word of may bring forth fruit
in their lives.