We send our children to school and, if we can, to the University so that will be able to live in the world, cope with it and make a contribution to it. We hope, however, that they will remain simple, self effacing people, relaxed and at home with all, even with those who have not been able to spend so much time in school or university. We hope too that even if our children, in the course of their work, make rich, influential friends or take up important positions they will continue to treasure the company of all, whatever their positions in life may be.

Both of today's readings tell us of people who became hard-hearted, demanding and somewhat arrogant because of their so-called learning or rather rapidly acquired holiness or spirituality. St. Paul must have been disappointed when some of the new Chritians in Corinth began to look down on their supposedly less spiritual bothers and sisters.

Jesus was forced to continually confront some of the Pharisees who because of their claimed superior grasp of the Law made impossible and unrealistic demands on their less well informed brothers and sisters.

We must pray that whatever learning we or our children acquire may make us easier people to live with. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.