# Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - True Greatness

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/catholic-daily-reflections-334651/saturday-of-the-twentieth-week-in-ordinary-time-true-greatness
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/catholic-daily-reflections-334651/saturday-of-the-twentieth-week-in-ordinary-time-true-greatness.md
Podcast: [Catholic Daily Reflections](https://stenobird.com/podcast/catholic-daily-reflections-334651)
Published: 2026-08-21T09:00:14+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/saturday-of-the-twentieth-week-in-ordinary-time-true-greatness--72718937
Audio file: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72718937/saturday_of_the_twentieth_week_in_ordinary_time_true_greatness_1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/catholic-daily-reflections-334651/episodes/saturday-of-the-twentieth-week-in-ordinary-time-true-greatness
Duration seconds: 459

## Resource

Read Online True Greatness 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…” Matthew 23:1–3 What does it mean to be truly great in God’s eyes? In a world that prizes recognition, success, and honor, Jesus offers a radically different vision—one that exalts the lowly and humbles the proud. Today’s Gospel takes place during the final week of Jesus’ earthly life as He participates in the Passover celebrations in the Temple. Throughout that week, He faced ongoing opposition and envy from the very religious leaders entrusted with guiding God’s people. Though these leaders gravely failed in their sacred duties, Jesus does not rebuke them out of resentment but with divine charity and a desire for their conversion. Of note, He does not address them directly, but speaks about them to the crowds and His disciples, humbling them through public correction. By doing so, Jesus makes it clear that His words are not merely a historical critique. They are a lasting teaching for every generation, offering timeless guidance for the Church and for every soul striving for holiness. The scribes and Pharisees held legitimate authority. Having “taken their seat on the chair of Moses,” they were official interpreters of the Law. Jesus does not condemn the office, only the corruption of those who occupied it. The faithful are instructed to follow the teachings that conform to God’s law, even if the leaders’ lives fall short. This reminds us that the efficacy of the Church’s sacraments and teachings—entrusted today to the “chair of Peter”—depends not on the personal holiness of…

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