Pharisees and Scribes

For us Catholics, the Mother of Christ; the Mother of God, is also our Mother.
She is our model of how to be in the world.

She did not say a lot, she was certainly never seen on a pedestal,
her attitude and life spoke louder than words.

She is known for her readiness, her willingness.

One of the few things she said was:

"Do as He tells you" referring to her son Jesus, addressing herself to the servants
at the wedding in Cana when they ran out of wine.
Jesus is the perfect physician and therapist, there is never a risk that He will make a wrong diagnosis.

The spiritual teaching of the Catholic Church tells us to master all our feelings, reactions and impulses of all kinds.

Do not constantly justify or defend yourself
Forgive
Do not take revenge for any wrongdoings against you
Be present and willing to suffer whatever feelings you have, no matter what their origins.
Tolerate others when they put themselves up on their pedestals, because
there are still some pharisees in the Church, proclaiming the Word of God.

What is important to God is what is in a person's heart, what is the real motivation for the things
he does, including participation in the Church.

Titles such as "Your Reverend" "Your Excellence" etc. given to bishops and cardinals make me feel uncomfortable. For me it is a barrier.
Even now some people might be encouraged to make idols out of them.  
We must not have false gods, we must not revere men, nor put our trust in them.
Only in God.
Idolatry is the worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a person, in place of God.


Our Lady's Magnificat:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
For He has looked with favour on His lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him
In every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
And has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel
For He has remembered His promise of mercy,
The promise He made to our fathers,
To Abraham and his children for ever.