O.T. XXXI: Mal 1:14b-2b, 8-10; I Thes 2:7b-9,13;Mt 23:1-12

Today’s readings, especially the first and the gospel, contain a list of stinging indictments against corrupt religious leaders who should have known better but are guilty of dereliction of duty and misplaced priorities.
The priests of Malachi’s day doctored the message of God, which they were entrusted to transmit to their people. They wanted to be more popular with the people than faithful to God’s Word. They catered to itching ears and told folks what they wanted to hear, not necessarily what they needed to hear.

The harshness of Malachi’s prophetic words is outmatched by the diatribe which our Lord heaps on the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of His time. Our Lord’s rant against the Pharisees’ ostentatious dressing and certain cultural norms of honour could easily be applied to the Catholic Church and serve as the perfect foundation for any ad hominem anti-clerical attack on the Catholic hierarchy, or so many think. For, aren’t Catholic clergy known for dressing up in flowing robes and having seats of honour in churches and even social functions? Aren’t our priests simply addressed as “Father”?
It is clear that our Lord was attacking the hypocrisy and self-aggrandising attitude of the religious leaders of His time. He was not making a statement about fashion styles, nor was He attacking the cultural norms of giving places of honour to honoured guests.  He affirms their authority, saying they occupy the chair of Moses, and therefore, people must listen to them and do as they say. Hypocrisy and self-aggrandisement are not malady that is exclusive to clerics but can infect anyone. Whenever we make a show of our status or our outward practices to win men’s admiration, we are as guilty as the Pharisees and scribes described in today’s gospel.

Forbidding us to call anyone “teacher” or “father,” our Lord’s admonition is against the false assumption of any kind of title or mark of respect for self-glorification, thus detracting from the primacy of God’s authority in a very real way, putting oneself in God’s place. Our Lord was not outlawing the title “father” in legitimate usage. He Himself referred to the prodigal son’s parent as a father and quoted the commandment “Honour your father and your mother.” And He did not correct those who called Him “Rabbi” or “Master.”

Likewise, St Paul was unaware of any prohibition of the spiritual use of the title "father," telling the Corinthians: “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (1 Cor 4:15), and speaking of his relationship with Timothy said that “as a child with a father he has served along with me in the cause of the Gospel.” (Phil 2:22) The spiritual use of the term father was not questioned in the Church for centuries, and Jesus’ words were never invoked to cause question or concern about the practice. Early teachers and revered spiritual guides were known as the Fathers of the Church. Even the Pope is known as the “Holy Father.”

At the end of the day, if our criticisms are confined to attacks on dressing, cultural practices and titles, it would only expose our superficiality. We seem to be focusing on the externals and ignoring what is fundamentally interior to a person. Wouldn’t that be an apt description of one of the major sins of the Pharisees? Although we can judge the external behaviour of another, none of us can or are qualified to judge their intent. Our Lord could do this because He is God. Let us not flatter ourselves by thinking that we are on par with Him and can, therefore, do the same. In pointing finger to another let’s also be aware that we would stand in the same or even worse sin than the other.

Thomas Jefferson was the chief drafter of the American Declaration of Independence. One cannot but admire the brilliance and boldness of the words, “All people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson was also one of the signatories of the Declaration. — It will come then as a surprise to learn that Jefferson and some of the other signatories were slave owners. It is one of the ironies in history that they denied to millions of people the very freedom they were demanding for themselves. This illustrates the immense disparity between human aspirations and human performance.

Jesus was very strong in his criticism of the category of masters who "preach but do not practice." Jesus was reprimanding the leaders who "bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger."

What does it mean when Jesus says he is the only master? Does it mean that this title cannot be used henceforth by anyone else, that no one has the right to have himself called master? It means that no one has the right to have himself called master with a capital letter as if he were the ultimate owner of truth and taught, in his own name, the truth about God. Jesus is the supreme and definitive revelation of God to men, who contains in himself all the partial revelations that have existed before and after him.

The key to Jesus’ teaching today is found in the last few lines of today’s passage, where he exhorts us to follow this standard: “The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” This standard is not meant just for leaders, though they should take special heed of this, but it is for everyone.

The measure of a true Christian is not how many servants he has, but how many people he serves.”  As we go from here today, let’s keep reflecting on his words: ‘The greatest among you must be your servant …  Anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’