The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
Wearing a cross on a necklace can be a great way to remind yourself throughout the day to keep God in your thoughts or actions. But imagine if the newest trend were to wear bigger and bigger cross necklaces to demonstrate your piety. That would be a bit contradictory after a while, wouldn’t it? As people started buying bigger crosses, their sincere reason for wearing them would be lost in a sort of “holiness contest.”
This is the kind of thing that Jesus is pointing out in today’s Gospel. The phylacteries (ortefellin) are two small leather boxes that some Jews still wear today. The boxes contain parchment with key Scripture passages written on them. One box is tied to the top of the head, and one is tied to the inside of the arm so that it will touch the heart. The reason for wearing the tefellin is to help the wearers keep God foremost in their minds and hearts as well as in their actions.
However, as we see in today’s reading, some of the Pharisees started making their tefellin larger and broader in a vain attempt to show more piety than the next guy. They also started wearing their traditional tassels larger and lower for the same reason.
The traditions behind outward signs of devotion are sometimes very valid and holy, but we have to make sure that we aren’t putting our efforts into the external signs instead of making our interior connections deeper.
The best way to guard our hearts and minds is through the everyday, regular practices of prayer, repentance, and service. They may not feel as flashy as brand new crosses around our necks, but that’s okay. As we reach out to Jesus, we’ll find him reaching out to us. And we’ll find ourselves becoming more like him—humble vessels of the Spirit.
Jesus doesn’t care about what is fastened on your head, arms, or neck. He wants to be fastened in your heart.
“Lord, keep me focused on loving you and serving your people. Make my love for you grow from the inside out so that it shines through everything I say, think, and do.” Amen!Ruth 2:1 Na‘omi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent and wealthy member of Elimelekh’s clan, whose name was Bo‘az. 2 Rut the woman from Mo’av said to Na‘omi, “Let me go into the field and glean ears of grain behind anyone who will allow me to.” She answered her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out, arrived at the field and gleaned behind the reapers.
She happened to be in the part of the field that belonged to Bo‘az from Elimelekh’s clan,
8 Bo‘az said to Rut, “Did you hear that, my daughter? Don’t go to glean in another field, don’t leave this place, but stick here with my working girls. 9 Keep your eyes on whichever field the reapers are working in, and follow the girls. I’ve ordered the young men not to bother you. Whenever you get thirsty, go and drink from the water jars the young men have filled.”
10 She fell on her face, prostrating herself, and said to him, “Why are you showing me such favor? Why are you paying attention to me? After all, I’m only a foreigner.” 11 Bo‘az answered her, “I’ve heard the whole story, everything you’ve done for your mother-in-law since your husband died, including how you left your father and mother and the land you were born in to come to a people about whom you knew nothing beforehand.
4:13 So Bo‘az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Na‘omi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. 15 May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Na‘omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse. 17 The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, “A son has been born to Na‘omi,” and called it ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.
Psalms 128:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) How happy is everyone who fears Adonai,
who lives by his ways.
2 You will eat what your hands have produced;
you will be happy and prosperous.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
in the inner parts of your house.
Your children around the table will be
like shoots from an olive tree.
4 This is the kind of blessing that will fall
on him who fears Adonai.
5 May Adonai bless you from Tziyon!
May you see Yerushalayim prosper
all the days of your life,
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