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March 2, 2021One of the ‘mom-isms” I heard frequently as a child was, “Do as I say, not as I do”. It sounds like the message of the scribes and Pharisees in today’s reading. Yet Jesus warns us to notice the integrity and coherence between the message and the action, the preaching and the practice. Though I heard that ‘mom quote’ often, I never experienced the disconnect of that message in my family. However, I did take to heart the awareness of observing and following those who lived and breathed the message of Jesus. I noticed and sought to imitate those who ‘walked the talk’ even when no one was looking or praising them.
Now, as maturing followers of Jesus, it is imperative that we not only see but be the preaching of the Gospel. Today in the face of so many pandemics, so much tension in our lives, our communities, our country, our church, our world, we seek to not only find persons of integrity and authenticity, but to be such persons.
Amanda Gorman began her inaugural poem with this question: “When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” She concluded that same poem by offering us both hope and challenge: “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, If only we’re brave enough to be it”.
