Alexander the Great’s favorite teacher was Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher. On one occasion, returning from his battles, Alexander paid him a visit and enjoyed an afternoon of conversation with him. At the moment of parting, the conqueror of the Persian Empire, who also believed in reincarnation, said to his teacher: "How I wish I were Aristotle, not Alexander, in the next lifetime."
Aristotle answered: "If you wish so, you can be now. But the fact is, you cannot live like Aristotle, accustomed as you are to fighting and not to the search for wisdom."
Everyone remembers at least one teacher who had influenced his life. These teachers impart not just knowledge but a way of life. They are worthy of emulation because their wisdom does not come only from books but from life itself. They make an effort to live what they impart to their students and this is a powerful lesson in itself.
The ranks of the Pharisees and scribes, the religious teachers in the time of Jesus and the early Christians, include a number of honorable men. Paul is proud to have sat at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who are sympathetic to Jesus, belong to the party of the Pharisees.
As a group, however, the scribes and the Pharisees are objects of Jesus’ criticisms. This is partly because they enjoy the honor and privilege accorded to teachers of the Law and yet they do not live up to the heart of the Law. They do not have humility nor do they show compassion for their fellow Jews, especially those who are ignorant of the Law.
Jesus’ criticism is an important reminder to those who have opted to dedicate their life to the service of the Good News. Though there is a need to preach from the pulpit where one can see the people from the "top," there is a greater need for teachers who are willing to go to the people, speak to them in a more personal way, and treat them like brothers or sisters. This is not an art but a way of life, an attitude that seeks not the privilege of power, position, or wealth but that of serving others in a disinterested way.
The late Bishop "Benny" Tudtud went to Marawi to be a "brother" of Christians and Muslims alike. He shared with the Muslims a life of prayer and communion. When he perished in a plane crash in Baguio in 1988, the Muslims in his Marawi diocese felt that they had lost a brother and a friend.
Holiness is reflected in one’s way of life rather than in what one says. Bad examples easily drown out a beautifully worded lecture or sermon.
