Sometimes we hear about people who have left the Church because they maintain that bishops and priests do not practise what they preach. Even if their claims were true, such people should remember that our Lord in today's Gospel told the people to follow the teaching of their leaders because they had succeeded Moses as teachers, even though they did not follow the teaching themselves. Who then really is the teacher of our faith? It is Jesus Christ.

Jesus was the one who indeed practised what He preached. He told us to love our enemies, and He redeemed those who by sin were His enemies. He said that we should do good to our persecutors and He forgave those who put Him to death. Jesus proclaimed that no one could have greater love than to lay down his life for a friend and He died out of love for His Father and for us.

As Jesus' disciples we have to put into practice what He has taught us - to be more compassionate and forgiving like Him. In doing so, we can spread His teaching through our lives.