Being present to oneself: do not replace love with flakes and bows

(Mt 23:1-12)

New Relationship between God and man could not be contained within the detailed rules of the First Covenant and its heavy customs.

At the time of Jesus, such sick obsessions of snooty verticism dominated, therefore only epidermal; incapable of providing breath, freedom, propulsive motivation.

The pyramidal conception of the world and the exterior idea of ​​the plot of the spiritual life do not correspond to Revelation.

Our reality is interwoven with opposing states, which innervate and complete; even making move forward. Sometime turning into a torrent in flood.

Rejection, abandonment, failure, limitations, illness, and the contempt of others – even a crisis – can bring us back to the dormant energies of life and give birth to a new Person.

How to contact our new ways of being? What precautions should be taken to enter a regeneration dynamism that helps to develop a lively climate - and where to start?

Jesus proposes Faith: a founding Relationship, that is, a new way of placing oneself before the Father and the world... with a trusting, spousal and creative attitude; in the initiative of another point of view.

Multifaceted love, Eros coming to us in a palpable dialogue - not without inner struggles.

This in the time of a path (singular, not at all traced or external). Even on the spur of the moment, annoying, because it goes against the tide.

The religious authorities, on the other hand, sought their security in the rigorous and conspicuous observance of the written and oral Law. 

Without risk or mind-boggling customizations.

Faced with such an accommodating mentality, free from vertigo, the young Master insists on the practice of Friendship [much stronger than willpower] which relativizes the obligations.

He thus gives its true sense to the profound Tradition, rediscovering the authentic meaning of the Torah and the rules of behavior.

After all, it was precisely the spiritual leaders of the official religion who were the first to disbelieve what they preached to others... or felt exempt from it, because they were used to thinking of themselves as elective, recognised, selected, chosen models - almost cast from above.

Exaggerated spirit of control is a false attitude in itself – it causes excessive strain and is deaf to the inner core.

But it is also detrimental to the building of a family atmosphere, or a culture of encounter; to the synodal journey, even... and so on.

On the other hand, by insisting on the attitude [which is indeed infallible] of mutual service, there will be no time left to be caught up in vanity, disputes over precedence, superficial discussions, friction, or even the gap between saying and doing.

Where can the theatre of indifference, which depresses rather than invigorates God's people, start again?

From the everlasting scribes and pharisees (v.2). Self-proclaimed superiors, with limited and reductive criteria of judgement.

Well, according to the Gospels, those who take on ecclesiastical leadership roles are not entitled to any “ribbon”: they are simply «deacons» (v. 11) of their sisters and brothers.

They have no positions, but tasks. They have no titles, but duties. They have no rank; rather, they have a mission and many obligations.

To internalize and live the message:

Do you like ribbons? What does your soul say about peacocks?

[Tuesday 2nd wk. in Lent, March 3, 2026]