Readings of the Day

As lector of our local church, I am duty-bound to read the Readings of the Day and contemplate on them. Today's reading is very loaded with social relevance specially with the ZTE and other controversies that this present administration is confronted with.

In Isaiah 1: 10, 16 - 20, the Lord warns the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah:

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomor'rah!

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil,

learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins

are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

With all these left-and-right accusations, Psalm 50 has also something to say:


"But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?

For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.

These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.

He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!"


In the gospel, Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.

They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23: 1 - 12)


The three readings show that credibility and integrity are a very important values that leaders of both the church and of the secular society must possess in order to be pleasing to God. It displeases God than leaders keeps on bubbling their mouths with words without concrete projects that would uplift the unfortunate conditions of the people they are supposed to be serving.