Why Follow Jesus?

Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12

We are all too familiar with today's Gospel reading.  We live it everyday: religious leaders who lay heavy burdens and obligations on their people while they carry little themselves.  Men in power who hold over every law over their people, but cover for one another while they perform their misdeeds under cover of darkness.  Yes. as people head for the doors to consider religion no more the hypocrisy and double standard continues...

The Christian Church has billed itself as the new and better Israel, the spotless bride of Christ.  The marketing is smooth, the words are slick, but the product - the deeds - well, it handles a lot like the old car we had.  We will find ourselves adrift if we pattern ourselves after institutions and human beings who are false Messiahs and purveyors of their own self-interest.

We follow the Lord Jesus because he is such a compelling figure that we cannot not follow him.  His deeds conform to his words: the love he preached is the love he lived.  We are followers of the Lord Jesus because of him alone and very often in spite of, not because of, the institution and leaders who have authority and the magic ju-ju.  Jesus continues to inspire even if his followers do not.  Let us be followers who do inspire by following Jesus' example of love in all things.