First Reading: Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10
Reflection:
Malachi was a prophet to the people of Judah after they returned to the Promised Land from exile in Babylon. During this post-exilic period, the people did not have a king from the line of David, as they were still ruled by the Persian empire. As a result, the Levitical priests took on much of the day to day governing responsibilities, including being judges for resolving disputes, in addition to their responsibilities for leading worship and teaching. This Sunday’s first reading includes a strong chastisement from God, as delivered through the prophet Malachi, to these religious leaders. The priests were warned that God would punish (curse) them if they would not turn back to Him. They had taken their position of authority too far and had led the people away from God. They had abused their power (e.g. by showing “partiality in…decisions”), and they had not practiced what they preached. By acting this way, they had broken their covenant with God (that was established at the time of Moses, through their ancestor, Levi). The Lord reminded them that they were created by Him, as were the rest of the Israelites. They share a common Father in God and, therefore, had no right to act as if they were better than everyone else. They were called to humble themselves, listen to the Lord, and glorify His name.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13
Reflection:
Here St. Paul writes affectionately to the believers in the church in Thessaloniki. He describes the way he and his companions treated the people there using the imagery of a parent to child relationship, comparing their care for the believers to the way “a nursing mother cares for her children.” Unlike the religious leaders in the time of the Prophet Malachi and the scribes and Pharisees described by Jesus in the gospel reading, St. Paul and his companions treated the people placed under their spiritual care with tender, self-giving love. They practiced what they preached, for they not only taught them about the faith, but they also shared with them their “very selves as well.” They did not act as if they were greater than the people and needed to be served by them, but rather they worked “night and day in order not to burden any of [them].” They served, rather than seeking to be served. As Pope Francis has challenged Christian leaders to do today, St. Paul and his companions “took on the smell of the sheep.”
Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:1-12
Reflection:
In the gospel reading for this Sunday, there is a similar theme to the first reading. The scribes and Pharisees were religious leaders in Israel during the time of Jesus who were responsible for teaching the faith to the people. Yet, Jesus criticized them because “they preach but they do not practice.” Interestingly, Jesus told His followers to still listen to them and “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,” because of their religious authority (for they sat “on the chair of Moses,” giving them authority for interpreting the Law of Moses). But He instructed His followers to “not follow their example.” In other words, they should do as they say but not as they do. Like the religious leaders in the time of Malachi, the scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites and were lording their power over the people. They were putting themselves on pedestals above the people, rather than serving them. Jesus called His followers, including us today, to a different approach. His way is one of humility, for “whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus used hyperbole to make His point by calling His followers to call no one “Rabbi,” “teacher,” or “father.” These prohibitions are not to be taken literally, for Scripture attests to Jesus and the Apostles continuing to use these titles after this teaching. Rather, like in the first reading, we are to recognize that we all share a common Father in God. Someone who has been given spiritual authority was given that by God and should use that gift wisely and humbly to serve God and the people entrusted to their care, not to abuse the power they have. Rather than following the bad example of the priests in the time of Malachi or the scribes and Pharisees in the time of Jesus, religious leaders today should follow the example of St. Paul and his companions, as represented in the second reading. Their spiritual leadership should be exercised with gentleness, humility, and authenticity.
Application:
Have you ever experienced a bad leader, who acted like the priests in the first reading or the scribes and Pharisees in the gospel reading? What was your experience like? What can you learn from that leader’s mistakes?
Have you experienced good leaders, who exemplify gentleness and humility, like St. Paul and his companions? How did that type of spiritual leadership help you grow in your faith?
