Scriptures:

Matthew 23:1-3

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; ³therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.”

 

Reflection:

Moses’ seat refers to a place in the synagogue that was at one time provided for authoritative teaching. (Source: The Oxford Study Bible) Jesus cautioned His listeners not to follow their leaders for they might have talked the talk, but they did not walk the walk. They did not practice what they preach.

 

Christ’s words still apply in the world today.

 

When I first began reflecting on the scripture for today’s message, I was reminded of a young man named Jake who I met several years ago. Jake was very disgruntled with his father because he found his father to be asking things of him that his father did not do himself, in Jake’s eyes. Either that or his father would chastise Jake for something that he had at one time done himself. Jake thought his father a hypocrite and was having a difficult time respecting him or accepting his father’s guidance.

 

Experience

 

I attempted to explain to Jake that his father wanted him to benefit from the wisdom he had acquired through experience. Lessons that he had learned from the wrongful things he had done when he was you; the mistakes that he had made. Honest mistakes that he was now trying to help Jake avoid.

 

A lot of children find their parents to be hypocrites for this exact reason. And when the roles reverse, I am certain parents find the exact same hypocrisy in their children. Mine does.

 

Now that I have become her caretaker, and particularly because of the lessons that I share in church─ from Moses’ seat─ of compassion and kindness, my mother finds me to be a hypocrite. Perhaps rightfully so.

 

Comprehension

 

Until her disease began to manifest itself physically, I struggled to comprehend how she could have so many questions. Or how she was unable to make the simplest of decisions, such as if it was “okay to let the dog out”. This is after all the woman who has spent the last fifty years telling me what to do.

 

I became impatient when she asked me the same questions over and over again. I lacked compassion. Because I could not physically see her illness, I did not understand. And for that I shall be eternally sorry. This lesson, as life lessons frequently are, was the product of experience. Trial and error form the very painful mistakes we learn from.

 

“Do as they say, but do not do as they do.”

 

No better than the scribes and Pharisees of Christ’s time, I am no exception, and His words apply to me as well when He said, “do as they say, but do not do as they do.”

 

When it comes to wisdom gained from mistakes, we are all hypocrites. Even the best and best intentioned of us.

 

We are all human. No matter how hard we try, honest people will always make honest mistakes. Even leaders and teachers. Myself included.

 

Good News!

 

The good News is that God Forgives. Our challenge is to forgive one another and to be forgiven. This is why apologies are so important. Even when we make an honest mistake, we must acknowledge the others’ pain.

 

Perhaps we people will be more respectable if we preface our advice, or “authoritative teachings”, by saying “here is what I have learned by what I have done wrong.” This more accurately depicts that we humans are not born with spiritual wisdom. But rather gain insight through the very painful experience of what we do wrong. Or by taking advantage of the teachings of Jesus and applying them daily in our lives to the best of our ability.

 

Insight

One thing this experience has taught me is how others are unable to understand my own mental health challenges.

 

While I have always assumed it was a lack of compassion that formed a barrier between me and others when it comes to my mental health challenges, I now know that it may very well be a genuine lack of understanding.

 

It is difficult to grasp mentally the things we cannot see, particularly if we have never gained insight from a similar experience.

 

Thanks Mom for still teaching me even in these, the darkest hours, and end days of your existence.

 

Learn

 

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever.”

 

Here is what I have learned by what I have done wrong: patience and compassion are of the utmost importance. Especially from those who are teaching on these subjects; particularly for those who are suffering… from seen or unseen causes. My prayer is that my mother will forgive my ignorance as I struggle to understand her mental health challenges.

 

The Pharisees of Christ’s time, not unlike some parents or leaders today, created heavy burdens of oppression for others to bear. And they did so without lifting a finger to help. If there is any consolation for me it is that I at least helped during my parent’s time of distress.

 

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

 

My hope is that my actions will in deed speak louder than my words on judgement day and that my mother will remember me for how I helped. Not for my lack of understanding and lack of spiritual wisdom; my hypocrisy.

 

Frequently when the scribes, chief priests and Pharisees did do things it was only for show in order to be held in high regard. They desired honor and esteem without actually practicing what they preached.

 

The Parable of Two Sons was about the importance of actions over words. Here, Christ is again attempting to demonstrate to the chief priests and scribes in the temple the importance of practicing what they preached. His words are not lost on me.

 

Jesus says do not do like the scribes and Pharisees.

 

We are to remember that we humans will always be hypocrites to some degree because we learn primarily through the trial and error of our own mistakes. Or through the authoritative teachings of those in positions of power. Collectively, we humans think we know everything. When in actuality we each have limited experience by very virtue of the nature of life.

 

We each have only one body in which to traverse this life, learn and through which to gain the wisdom of experience.

 

Humility

 

We often forget humility, but boast on the expertise of our own individual reality. We lack compassion for one another and how different and unique each experience, and each disease, is. Particularly the ones we cannot see because they do not manifest physically, such as mental illness.

 

In following Christ’s example, we need to humble ourselves always.

 

When we recognize and openly admit our errors, we accept our humanness. Boast not in your expertise because we humans will never be all knowing. Only God is all knowing. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. But the greatest among you will be your servant because actions speak louder than words. (Matthew 23:12 & 11)

 

Praise be to God always.

 

Do as I say, do not do as I do. For God only will be the power and the glory forever.

 

The Messiah, Christ Jesus, will always be your only true teacher. Amen.