Mt 23,1-12

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: chair (cathedral)

Ask for the fruit of meditation: to be true (humble) with Jesus 

1. … but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to beat, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them

Jesus draws attention to the two-track function of the Scribes and Pharisees and encourages them do whatever they teach you and follow it. In what sphere of life do you experience personal dualities, and what can you do to make Jesus more consistent? You can ask Jesus during this prayer.Notice, too, that Jesus, speaking of this two-track, tells you to keep whatever the Pharisees say. That is, looking at a broader perspective, he encourages us to take for ourselves what bring us the greater good. We can often meet reactions in ourselves and in others to authorities such as: how can he / she tell us something like that if he / she does so badly!  Yet Jesus speaks … you can listen to such people but not follow their actions. How is it in you in this context?  

2. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.

It is good to experience acceptance, affirmation, and being wanted from the beginning of your existence. Each of us desire this condition consciously or unconsciously. Unfortunately, the participation of each creature is marked by a crack, which we call the Original Sin and its consequences. The desire to be important, noticed, appreciated can arouse in us a certain “theatricality” of being, fascination, adulteration in various living spaces. What tendencies do you notice in yourself? It can contribute to our submission, the fear of setting boundaries, the tendency to self-exaltation, to actions that prove that I must earn acceptance. More generally, this desire, while good in itself, can be very destructive to ourselves. What tendencies do you notice in yourself? Allow yourself to be with it in front of Jesus who takes it upon himself and transforms it constantly. Let yourself be with it before Jesus, who took it and changed it.  

3.The greatest among you will be your servant. Answer the question – and what does it mean to serve? – is in Jesus’ life – in his way of experiencing all reality. We learn this attitude by being selfless (motivated – intending) being with Jesus. Prayer is a time “lost” to being with Jesus. It transforms.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)