THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A

[cappie]

Though they were Moses’ successors, the Pharisees and scribes exalted themselves, making their mastery of the law a badge of social privilege. Worse, they had lorded the law over the people.  Like the priests Malachi condemns in today’s First Reading, they caused many to falter and be closed off from God. In a word, Israel’s leaders failed to be good spiritual fathers of God’s people. 

  In the Gospel today, Jesus says that his followers ought to respect the authority of the Pharisees and the scribes. When Jesus says that they “ occupy the chair of Moses,” he is, in effect, saying that these religious leaders have legitimate authority. Jesus never denounces the Law, the Torah, or the traditions of Israel. The original covenant, the first covenant, between God and Abraham,  was and still is, in effect.   What Jesus is doing is critising these religious authorities for being too showy with the public expression of their faith. It is not that their phylacteries are wrong to wear; it’s that they have made a prayer shawl into an article of bragging. True greatness is not found in mere outward displays of piety or religious titles. It lies in living out the values we profess.

 Jesus then goes on to say that we should recognize no rabbi, father, or teacher except Christ. This is not to be taken literally, but it is to be taken seriously. Of course, we all have fathers and teachers, but Jesus’ injunction is on our proper understanding of where we stand in the scheme of things.

 Here, Jesus is making a claim very much like the one that God made on Mount Sinai when he delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses. The first commandment was: you shall have no other gods before me. God expects us to trust him, solely and totally. God is reminding us that we have the inclination within us to look around and try to make something complete us; this is the heart of idolatry. Things can never complete us, neither can people.  They cannot be God for us; only God can be God. It is God who is the source of our happiness, satisfaction, and hope.

This is precisely what Jesus is saying to us today. There’s only one father, there is only one rabbi, and there is only one teacher. There’s only one initiator of the Kingdom of God, and that is Jesus Christ. Of course, teachers and other mentors are good. We all have those special individuals who show us the path to approaching God, to deeper knowledge of ourselves and our Lord. But God is the goal, God is always the goal.  True greatness comes from a humble heart that values others as equals and seeks to serve rather than be served.

 God has made himself known to us first in the life of Israel, then through Jesus Christ, and now we know him through his Holy Spirit, which enables us to come to God.
 

It simply isn’t enough for us to be admirers of Christ; we need to be disciples. We become disciples by having one God, one teacher, and following him first. Our trust in God will cause His faithfulness to spring forward and drive us to deeper and deeper love for ourselves, our neighbours, and most importantly, for our God.

Verse 12 concludes with " Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted." In this, Jesus reinforces the principle that humility is the path to true greatness. Those who exalt themselves in pride and self-righteousness will ultimately be brought low, while those who humble themselves will be lifted up by God.

In our society, the pursuit of greatness is often associated with power, wealth, and prestige. However, Jesus teaches us a different path to greatness, one of humility, selfless service, and a heart that seeks to honour God rather than self. 

We remember that true greatness is not found then in outward appearances, but in the condition of our hearts, to serve one another, and place God's glory above our own.  As St Paul says in our Second Reading today that it is  God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it. That’s the most important thing of all. May God grant us the grace and strength to follow this path and become true disciples of our Lord. Amen.

 

[BarbTherese]

Thank you