The witness of deeds

In today's Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12), our Lord speaks of religious leaders who teach the truth authoritatively but exemplify it very badly.

On the other hand, today's first reading tells us of a woman whose good deeds not only proclaim her virtue but lay the groundwork for salvation: getting better access to food for the short term and for the long term becoming the great-grandmother of King David and thus also ancestor of the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

By the grace of Christ may you and I be faithful and effective in the witness of our words and the witness of our deeds.