God's Word for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time A

The greatest among you must be your servant. 

Malachi 1:14-2:2.8-10. Psalm 130. 1 Thess 2:7-9.13.

Have we not all one Father? Why then do we break faith with one another?

O Lord, my heart is not proud or haughty my eyes.

As soon as you heard the message, you accepted it for what it is, God’s message.

The greatest among you must be your servant

Gospel Mt 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Servant or Lord?

Jesus condemned the Jewish leaders. But his warnings are meant for Christian leaders too. To see how leaders should exercise authority, we must study Jesus. He is the pattern for his flock. Though he was God, no one ever imagined that he was! He had no distinguishing robes, special living conditions or means of travel. He had no title, no rank, and no special authority. He mixed with the riffraff of society, eating and spending time with them. He didn’t belong to a priestly family. If called rabbi it was because he taught with authority, and not like the scribes. He washed the feet of his disciples.  He considered this so important. ‘You also must wash one another’s feet”. He himself prepared breakfast for his disciples by the Sea of Galilee. In the Gospel we see him either going to heal someone or returning from a healing. When he saw people like sheep without a shepherd, he forgot his own need for rest and preached to them. He never refused any call, never demanded or expected any special treatment or honour, had no place to lay his head, allowed himself to be handed over to sinners to be tortured and killed. Yet he was not afraid to speak out against injustice even if the Pharisees mocked him or conspired against him. He was by no means timid but gentle and humble of heart, a friend of outcasts and sinners.

            He condemns hypocrisy and externalism, whether in prayer, almsgiving or fasting. He warns against wanting titles, lording it over others, any kind of elitism, desiring positions of honour, adulation and domination.

When the Church became the State religion under Constantine after 312 AD, it became fashionable to be a Christian. Previously in the time of persecutions, it was a risk. Now Christian leaders became important in the civic community. Power, as it is said, corrupts and in the course of time Church leaders also took on the trappings of secular rulers – their kind of clothes and style of living and even titles. What is in a name? But with the titles and style of worldly rulers will we not be tempted to take on their attitudes too?

            But in his community Jesus insists we are all equal. There are no superior or inferior ranks. There are no lords but shepherds who are to be examples to their flock. The greatest is to be servant - not only in name but also in fact. Yet in the Church do we not have our distinguishing titles and ranks?  Do we not enjoy them too? Do we not act, at times, as though we are lords? Yet we are called to emulate the Great Foot Washer, and be humble servants of one another. Are you ready to pour yourself out in service to your brothers and sisters?

Father, though your Son was God he became a servant, grant that I may imitate him and give my life for others.