A Homily on Matthew 23:1-12 :You Are All Brothers ( 23-8-25)

A Homily on Matthew 23:1-12: A call from Jesus to live as brothers and sisters in faith, not seeking honour but building family and community in love…

23-08-2024

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

In an interior village, there lived two brothers who loved each other; one was single, the other was married with children. The unmarried brother worked hard but was always worried about his married brother. He thought, “My brother has a wife and children. How will he manage with so little? I must secretly add some of my harvest to his barn at night.”

The married brother, on the other hand, often thought, “I have my wife and children; if something happens to me, they will take care of me and one another. But my brother is alone. If something happens to him, who will care for him? I must secretly add some of my harvest to his barn at night.” So each night they carried sacks of grain to the other’s barn. Yet strangely, their own barns never became less. The amount seemed always the same, as though a hidden hand was blessing them. One night when there was full moon, the two brothers met in the middle of the field. Suddenly they understood what the other had been doing. They  could not control their tears and  dropping  their sacks,  they embraced and  kissed.

This story shines a light on the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “You are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8). Jesus speaks these words to people who were burdened by leaders who loved titles, seats of honour, and public respect. The Pharisees and scribes wanted to be seen as important. But Jesus says clearly that in his family there is only one Father in heaven, one Teacher, one Lord, and the rest are brothers and sisters.

The Old Testament shows us many times where brothers forgot this truth. Cain rose against Abel and killed him out of jealousy (Genesis 4:8). Jacob tricked Esau to take the blessing of their father (Genesis 27:36). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). Whenever brothers failed to live as brothers, sorrow damned the families. But God always worked to heal. And wherever the brothers initiated to forgive they saw miracles. Joseph forgave his brothers and saved them from famine (Genesis 45:4–5). Esau embraced Jacob after years of anger (Genesis 33:4). God was slowly teaching his people that true faith means living as one family. We all are children of one God and hence are brothers in itself. jesus is our elder brother(cf Rom.8:29) and this elder brother died for our sins (cf Heb2:17). So let us love each other as our Elder brother modelled.

Jesus takes this lesson further. He calls fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots and makes them His disciples. He does not call them to fight for the first seat but to live as one body. He kneels before them, washes their feet, and says, “Do the same for one another” (John 13:14–15). The early Christians understood this so deeply that people used to say, “See how they love one another” (John 13:35). And this love helped them to support and encourage each other. August 23^rd Church Celebrates the feast of  St. Rose of Lima. She had a brother who helped to construct the cell in their home garden which paved the base for Rose’s spiritual journey. The brother will be ever remembered as  a person of cause for this greatly saintly life. But when we are turning against each other, both will end up in evil as it is quoted  “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit”(Mt.15/14). Let us be brothers and sisters who shed light in others life. 

In our families, this Gospel has great meaning. Too often brothers and sisters quarrel about property, respect, or who gets more attention. Sometimes even in prayer groups or parish life, people want to be seen, to be honoured, to sit in the front, but forget to serve. Even in religious life, the temptation for recognition can appear. Jesus reminds us: “You are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8). Saint Benedict called all his monks simply “brothers.” It did not matter if one was noble or poor, learned or unlearned. All stand before God as equals. This spirit made his communities strong and peaceful.

The world around us divides people by caste, wealth, language, or power. But the Lord whispers again, “You are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8). If we take these words seriously, our homes will be filled with peace, our parishes will be families of faith, and our Christian witness will shine before the world. So let us not run after honour or the first place. Let us embrace one another as brothers and sisters, for only then do we truly belong to the family of God.

Lord, open my heart that I may see everyone as my brother and sister. Amen.

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