As long as I'm commenting on the Sunday readings, let's add some commentary on the Gospel. The whole reading was Matthew 23:1-12, which has a LOT of stuff in it, but the part I thought most important is in verses 1-3:
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice...."
It's a stunningly clear exhortation to distinguish between the office and the officeholder.
There are applications in many situations: religion, politics, the family, the military, even commerce. Sticking with religion for the moment: How many times have we heard corruption, hypocrisy, criminality among the hierarchy as an argument for why the Catholic Church cannot possibly be teaching the truth? (It's not just Catholics of course; cf. televangelists.)
Yes, there have been many bad priests. Yes, bishops committed great wrongs. Yes, we have had terribly corrupt Popes. Doesn't mean that what they taught was wrong. Do and observe whatsoever they tell you even if they are hypocrites. (One can, of course, point out that great and humble saints have taught the very same truths that are preached by the hypocrites.)
When you run into someone, these days, who doesn't practice what he preaches, conventional wisdom says he should conform his preaching to his practice. Rarely is this the case. Much more often, the hypocrite in question should conform his practice to his preaching.
Anyway, the Scripture passage is a reminder that the office deserves respect --- and in some cases obedience --- even if the officeholder is contemptible.
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