HOMILY FOR 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR-A]
THEME: Religious Leadership and Humility
Fr. Luke Ijezie
Malachi 1:14b–2:2b,8-10
Resp. Psalm 131:1-3
1Thessalonians 2:7b-9,13
Matthew 23:1-12
Leadership in matters of religion is a special call and gift from God. There are specially ordained leaders called to act as guardians of the religious faith. There are also leaders at diverse levels of religious formation. To this last group, many belong, including parents, teachers and leaders of various religious associations. To whichever group we belong, we are warned never to exalt ourselves above the one for whom we work. The fact is that we serve only one Master, and that Master is God Himself. This is a central message in all the readings of this thirty-first Sunday of the year. There is always the danger of becoming too powerful as a religious leader, to the extent that one forgets that one is still human and no god. The psalmist of Psalm 131 sums it: “O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great, nor marvels beyond me” (131:1).
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1. In the Gospel text from Matt 23:1-12, Jesus rebukes the Jewish religious leaders of his time, particularly the Scribes and the Pharisees, for their love of honour and big titles while paying lip service to the practical demands of their office. Jesus acknowledges their authority as ones sitting on the chair of Moses, and encourages the people to follow their teaching. This is very instructive. People are to do what they teach but not to imitate what they do. What Jesus condemns is their attitude in assuming airs and acting like deities before the people. When Jesus talks against calling anyone teacher, master or father on earth, he should be understood properly. He is only speaking against taking the honour that belongs to God.
2. In a similar way, the first reading from Mal 1:14b-2:2b,8-10 has very strong words against the Levitical priests who mislead the people by teaching wrong things and arrogating to themselves honours due to God alone. They offer God impure sacrifices and the people stumble because of their conduct, as they are accused of having abandoned the covenant of Levi. This was a covenant of peace and life which God made with the Levitical priests on the condition that they fear Him and make His name revered. The priests in Malachi’s time were not giving this due honour to God’s name and because of this, divine reverence was not practised much by the people.
3. In the second reading from 1Thess 2:7b-9,13, Paul tells the Thessalonians how exceptional he and his colleagues were as religious leaders in their midst. They not only shared the gospel message but also shared their own lives. They offered themselves entirely for the good of the people. Only humble religious leaders who truly understand the nature of the mission entrusted to them can act like Paul and his fellow missionaries.
4. As baptised Christians, we are called to religious leadership at various levels. We are obliged to render humble and honest service and never to act as if we were the ones to be worshipped by the people. Of course, God never jokes with the honour and glory due to Him. Most problems we have in the society today emanate from leaders who act as lords and tyrants among their people. This is not to be heard of among religious leaders, whether as as clergy and religious or as leaders of youth, lay leaders of men and women groups and pious societies.
May the Lord who has called us continue to equip us with the grace of humble and dedicated leadership in every sector we find ourselves!
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