Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
This book presents the oracles of a prophet simply known as “my messenger” (the meaning of the name Malachi). This is a fitting title for a servant bringing the divine message to a people who need to hear what God has so say if they are to succeed in restoring their homeland. In this critical time, members of the community recently returned from exile have erected a temple to replace the old one. They still need direction to grow strong in the rich faith tradition of their ancestors.
Today’s Gospel depicts Jesus strongly denouncing the scribes and Pharisees. Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set forth this principle: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” In the present passage Jesus gives a detailed account of how the scribes and Pharisees have failed in their leadership and how his own followers must surpass that. Jesus is certainly not condemning all of Judaism. He is focusing primarily on the leaders who have misled the people.
Do not follow their example. Jesus concedes to the scribes and Pharisees legitimate authority as leaders of Israel. They sit on the chair of Moses. Jesus instructs the people to do what the scribes and Pharisees tell them but not to follow their example. Actually, what the scribes and Pharisees say is only legitimate so long as they are simply repeating words from the Torah. By no means are their actions to be imitated. Hypocritically, they preach, but they do not practice.
Heavy burdens. The scribes and Pharisees have laid heavy burdens on the people and refuse to help them. Many actions originally required only for the priests have been extended and required for the common people. These scribes and Pharisees perform their religious observances like actors in a drama. They are totally self-centered and will do whatever it takes to attract attention. These harsh criticisms reflect a grow[1]ing animosity between the Church of Matthew and the scribes and Pharisee then.
No official titles. Jesus is portrayed as instructing his followers not to use titles such as rabbi, father, and master. At the time of Jesus, these titles were not considered official. The scribes and Pharisees seem to be using such labels for self-aggrandizement. Jesus closes with a corrective teaching. “The greatest among you must be your servant.” “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This teaching is aimed directly at the leaders among the scribes and Pharisees.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org.©2023. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius