BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READINGS
31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
THEME: “THE ABUSE OF THE WORD”
((Readings: 1st: Mal 1:14b-2:2b,8-10; Ps:131; 2nd: 1 Thes 2:7b-9,13; Gos: Mt 23:1-12))
Today being the thirty-first Sunday in the ordinary time, our mother church is urging us to hold firm to the message of eternal life in order to safeguard our faith against religious oppression and exploitation in these dangerous times. In the first reading, Prophet Malachi warns us of the dangers of straying from the right path or leading others astray. Prophet Malachi condemns the irresponsible, misleading, oppressing, proud, and lazy priests of his time. “And now priests, this is a warning for you…you have strayed from the way, and you have caused many to stumble by your teaching, you have destroyed the covenant of Levi”.
Although the message today is directed to the pastors of the souls, God is also speaking to each of us. He is calling us to live good lives and glorify God with our actions like Thessalonians who received the good news received from Paul with honor and reverence. How do we receive the good news for our salvation? How should we use the word of God?
Therefore, dear friends today we shall focus on common abuse of the word of God and condemn them with the strongest terms possible.
- AS A MEANS OF EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION
The Author of the book of Malachi lived in a time of great moral decay. Corruption was rampant, and people were being exploited. The prophet accused the priests because they did not perform their rituals well but they sought only their own interests and profit. They used the word of God to abuse, oppress, Mislead, and exploit the believers causing them to stumble. Their presence was a burden to people. This is exactly what is happening in our society today. The robbers are no longer stealing in banks using dangerous weapons but, in the church, using the Bible. Most of “The Shepherds” are no longer interested in the spiritual welfare of their flocks but in their own personal interest. If you realize that your pastor is only preaching about sadaka and miracles (the Gospel of prosperity), be careful!
On the contrary, with gratitude, Paul recounts in the second reading how they faithfully transmitted the good news to the church of Thessalonica, with total devotion and dedication. “We have cared for you like a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our own lives as well…Working day and night in order not to be a burden to any of you while proclaiming the Gospel.” Paul and his companions were faithful pastors and role models to all pastors of the souls. Be aware of many scammers and thieves in our society in the name of Pastors!
- HYPOCRISY
Hypocrisy is a pretense of having a virtuous character that one does not really possess. Jesus in the Gospel today warns us against the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees because their lifestyles were not consistent with their teachings. “Therefore, do observe all the things that they teach you but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” The Pharisees who were supposed to be pastors of the souls lived double standard lives. They lived and behaved contrary to the gospel. They preached water and drank wine themselves.
Let us imitate the church of Thessalonica who received the gospel in their heart as God´s message, and lived it with faith, sincerity, and honesty. Let us imitate Paul and his companions who preached the Gospel with devotion and dedication and lived according to the Gospel they preached. A Christian should not have a double standard life but as a role model. Is your life consistent with the faith you profess?
(3) HONOR AND REVERENCE
St. Paul is today praising the Church of Thessalonica for receiving the word of God with great honor and reverence. Thessalonians did not take God´s message for granted. Instead, they accepted it with an open heart and mind. “As soon as you heard the message that we brought, you accepted it as God´s message and not something human.” (1Thes 2:13) How do you receive the word of God preached to us every day? As God’s words or words from the priest? How do we handle our bible? Do you treat it with respect and honor or like any other book?
In brief dear friends, there is a lot of abuse in the church today. Jesus is denouncing religious exploitation and oppression of the poor using the word of God. The church has become a business and means to earn quick income and that is why churches are springing at every corner. The word of God is being used to steal money from poor Christians. The early church should be our role model where Christians received the gospel as God´s message and the preachers preached to the people with love, devotion, and dedication. We should therefore be warned not to fall victim to religious exploitation and false teachings. There are many Pharisees and scribes even today.
PRAYER: Have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen
Fr. Antony Muchui, SVD
Blessed Sunday
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“May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all People. Amen”
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 