31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); November 5, 2023

Mal 1:14b-2:2,8-10. Ps 131. 1 Thes 2:7b-9,13. Mt 23:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden

Before we look at today’s Gospel reading in which Jesus denounces the Scribes and the Pharisees–the religious establishment of his time— it’s good to pay attention to what Paul said in his First Letter to the Thessalonians: namely, as we draw near to the Gospel, let us do so “not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God’ (1 Thes 2:13). When we do so, we can accept with faith the warning Jesus is offering in today’s Gospel, which directs harsh criticism at the scribes and Pharisees, but, at the same time, entrusts an important mandate to Christians of all times. Jesus is speaking to us.

In today’s passage Jesus gets in the face of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the teachers of the community, because their conduct was flagrantly at odds with the teaching they so rigorously taught others. Jesus put it simply that they “preach, but do not practice” (Mt 23:3). Brothers and sisters, a frequent flaw of those in authority, whether it be civil or ecclesial, is that they demand other things, even good things–such as upholding our civic duties and religious responsibilities of generous self-giving—that they themselves  don’t put into practice.  It’s as though they’re living a double life. What do they do instead? “They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and to lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger”

(v. 4). Good teaching must always be received, but it loses its power when it is contradicted by inconsistent behavior. Authority is recognized and appreciated when it gives rise to a good example, so as to be a model to help others to do what is right and proper, sustaining them when life really gets hard. Authority is a help, but if it is wrongly exercised, it becomes oppressive. It does not allow people to grow, but can be used to prey upon people’s fears and anxieties, which creates a climate of distrust and hostility, and leads to sense of disunity, anxiety, and alienation.

Jesus openly denounces some of the negative consequences of the conduct of the scribes and some of the Pharisees: “they love the place of honor at the feasts in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places” (vv. 6-7). This is a

temptation when someone occupies a position of authority: they can take pride in occupying their elite status, where their endeavors become more about themselves rather than serving the common good.

Jesus’ attitude is exactly the opposite as he entrusts the mandates to his disciples: “you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren…Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (vv. 8-11). The disciples of Jesus must not seek titles of honor, authority, or occupy positions of privilege. Instead,

they must use their position to practice the Great Commandment, which Jesus teaches to everyone. Indeed, there is a one-to-one correspondence to what Jesus teaches and how he relates to us. And, as members of his mystical Body, the Church, we are called to do the same in in our religious, familial, political, social, and economic domains.

In Jesus, we exercise power and authority to promote the common good because we are all brothers and sisters and are thereby interconnected with one another. Such being the case, no one is disposable or should be abused or looked down upon because they are not useful for our egoic agenda. As brothers and sisters, we have received gifts and talents from our heavenly Father, which means they should be placed at the service of our brethren and not to exploit them for our own satisfaction or the interests of our in-group. Since we share in this radical equality as being made in the image of likeness of God, we must not feel superior to anyone; hence, humility and modesty are essential as we seek to conform ourselves to our Lord Jesus, who is our teacher and model for being fully human.  And, keep in mind that Jesus is meek and humble of heart and came not to be served but to serve.

So, here we are. Practicing what we preach, “walking the talk,” is a goal which we strive to attain. But, if that is going to become a reality we have to repent of our current practice— the way we live. There is the Good News and there is the way we go about our lives that often follows the conventional, secular model. There is a disparity and we have to own up to it. But we’re not going to throw in the towel. Instead, we’re going to embrace the vision of Jesus, which means we embrace the process of purifying ourselves of the stuff that keeps us from living the truth we profess embracing the vision of Jesus that is before us. Being repentant is not a stigma, branding us as failed Christians. No, it just comes with the territory of following something that we on occasion betray. That’s why Christ has blessed us with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

So, when we proclaim the Good News, when we strive to promote a community of love and solidarity, let us also be realistic and keep the sackcloth and ashes handy!

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, “humble and exalted more than any creature” (Dante, Paradiso, XXXI:2), help us, with her motherly intercession, to let go of pride and vanity, and to be meek and docile to the love that comes from God. Amen.