HOMILY: 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
Rev Fr Stephen ‘Dayo Osinkoya
Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10
Psalm 130:1-3
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-9, 13
Matthew 23:1-12
On this 31st Sunday in the ordinary time, the message of today’s liturgy is strong worded, directed at the priests and religious leaders. Hence, today is one of those Sundays when I just feel like sitting in the congregation, or maybe on the sanctuary still, and listen to the homily being preached by another. But since I do not have the luxury of another homilist other than myself, I have reflected on the message of today, addressing it to myself, as it is the intention of the first reading, through prophet Malachi.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY – 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
The First Reading is an indictment against the abuse of religious authority for self-gain. The priests were offering ‘polluted’ sacrifices of sick and worthless animals and have failed to honour the integrity of the Lord’s name. The Prophet Malachi tells them how they have fallen from the grace of the Lord God and have brought the religion to disrepute. But their core offense consisted of that they have turned away from the right path and by their teaching have led many to do wrong. Indeed, they have broken the covenant with God by their wicked ways. Moreover, they have been also currying favour with the rich and powerful and by their irresponsible decisions, they have made a travesty of justice. The prophet tells those sinful priests that God offers them an opportunity to repent and change their ways. If they will not, God threatens to send the curse upon them that is the opposite of blessing a worthy priest deserves to receive. In fact, God had already taken away the blessings of some. He was now going to make them become the scorn of other nations, abasing them before all. (Fr. Albert Lakra)
While the message of today’s liturgy is directly intended for those in the ministerial priesthood, it is also indirectly intended for all, most especially those who through baptism have come to share in the secular priesthood of Christ.
In the New Testament, Jesus confronted so many evils buy his strongest dislike was for hypocrisy and his strongest language was directed at hypocrites; he wouldn’t mince words when it comes to speaking against religious hypocrisy. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones, and of all filthiness. (Matthew 23:27) These lines show they provoked his greatest anger. But Hypocrisy isn’t found just among clergy and religious leaders, it is found among people in every society, association, organization and institution.
What is hypocrisy?
This is a pretence of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, publicly approved attitude, etc., that one does not really possess.
I have come across and learned of some former Catholics who say they don’t come to church anymore because it’s filled with people who think of and portray themselves as holy but live in unholy ways in their ordinary, everyday lives. They’re religious on Sunday but have nothing religious about them from Monday through Saturday. Funny enough, many who accuse others of hypocrisy are themselves guilty of it.
To deal with hypocrisy in our life as Christians, we must first admit that the standard Jesus Christ places before us is very high and requires the divine assistance to meet up. Secondly, we must admit that we are very far from this standard; there is a huge gap between what we are and what we ought to be. That would amount to sincerity with the self, with no pretence whatsoever about one’s position before God. As a matter of fact, to be a hypocrite is to be a non-believer, since a hypocrite is only pretending to be an adherent of the faith when in fact he does everything that is against the faith. That is why a hypocrite is not an occasional sinner (everybody sins occasionally), but a routine sinner, always giving bad examples for people to follow.
In the gospel passage of today, Jesus is warning us against all forms of externalities which are in themselves signs of hypocrisy. Jesus is not in any way condemning titles, be it social, academic or religious, when he said “You, however, must not allow yourself to be called Rabbi” rather, he is urging his followers to ensure to live up to the standard of whatever title they bear, keeping in mind the standard of God as true father. “You have but one teacher . . . . you have but one Father in heaven. . . . you have but one master, the Christ” (Mt 23:8-10). That is, the true standard for all our titles is God—and not just any God, but the God who suffered and died for us. Every person must see his position and the equivalent title as mirroring God.
According to Confucius “Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son.” (Analects12.11) Everybody must live up to his status. The modern-day Pharisees are glad to accept titles of positions without accepting their divine standard into their hearts. These kind of people always want to write their own job description and standard rather than abide by the description and standard written by God.
By insisting on but “one Father in heaven,” Jesus makes the true standard of fatherhood the love of His Father, who puts his children’s interests before His own. That is why St Paul urges us to emulate him and the other apostles in giving good examples for others to follow. One of such examples is humble service without reservation. Putting others first, just as Jesus puts us first, accepting to die for us. Hence, Jesus himself concludes the gospel passage of today by saying, “The greatest among you must be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” In other words, greatness in leadership is shown by being at the service of others.
FOR SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>