Homily Ordinary 31A: That they may occupy the chair of Moses worthily

Homily for 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A 2017 

Malachi 1:14-2:2.8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9.13; Matthew 23:1-12

Introduction 

Pope Francis is very popular among many Catholics and even non-Catholics.  But among one group that popularity is not universal, perhaps because they have come in for some of his harshest criticism.  These are priests and bishops. 

• If the pope is not railing against "airport bishops," those bishops who are often away from their flock, he is denouncing careerism in the priesthood. 
• If he is not attacking "rigid priests" those who lack warmth and humanness in their dealings with the flock, he is condemning the outrage of sexual abuse among the clergy. 

But the Pope has good reason to be hard on priests and bishops.  He is only doing what the Lord Jesus himself does in today's gospel passage and what we heard the prophet Malachi speak about in the first reading. 

Scripture and Theology 

Unlike the scriptures of many other faiths, the Jewish and Christian Bible never tires of challenging the religious leaders to fidelity.  Challenging kings and priests when they go wrong is practically the central message of the prophets of the Old Testament. 

Today's reading from Malachi does this in a particular way, especially since Malachi is the last prophet of the Old Testament.  He indicts the priests of his time, accusing them of three main offences. 

• First, they are offering unworthy sacrifices – it seems that they would offer defective animals, the sick, lame and blind one, instead of the best ones. 
• Second, they are leading the people astray by their bad instruction, perhaps by not teaching the truth or not teaching at all. 
• Third, they are not fair in judging cases, showing partiality rather than siding with the truth. 

These charges are bad enough when committed by anybody; but when committed by those who, in the name of God, are responsible for the welfare of the people, they are a serious betrayal of responsibility and God's trust. 

Jesus too certainly had a beef with many of the priests of his day; and he rightly challenged them too, like when he drove the merchants and money-changers from the temple.  In fact, it is the priests out of vengeance, who would eventually hand him over to the Roman authorities to be tried and killed. 

But in today's gospel, the focus of his condemnation are the Pharisees.  They were not priests, but were a lay movement that was trying to preserve Jewish religious law, as handed down from their forefathers.  Think today of many lay movements in the Church, such as the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Daughters of America, the Cursillo movement.  Like our modern equivalents, the Pharisees were well-intentioned. In their case, they studied the law very hard, so that they could help the people follow the will of God. 

But since they were human beings, like the priests, they too often fell short of God's will.  And that is why Jesus reserves his harshest criticism for them. 

• First, he accuses them of being hypocrites, that is teaching one thing and doing another.  That is why Jesus tells the disciples, "do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, [because it is good] but do not follow their example [because it is bad]." 
• Second, Jesus accuses them of dereliction of duty, failing to be shepherds and leaders.  For they lay heavy burdens on the people, perhaps by imposing rigid laws on them, "but they will not lift a finger to move them." 
• The third indictment has to do with what today might be described as "celebrity attention-seeking behaviour."  Their good deeds are done in public so as to win the praise of men.  They even dress the part, ensuring that everybody can see them in their elegant robes.  And they demand to be called by titles of honour, such as Rabbi, Father, and Master. 

Like Malachi's indictment of the priests, Jesus' indictment of this lay movement also shows that although these actions are sinful when committed by anybody, they are especially heinous when committed by those in a position of authority. 

Christian Life 

Now don't rush to write off the priesthood or any authority because you hear Jesus, the Prophets and even Pope Francis criticize them.  The reason they criticize them is to hold them accountable, to challenge them to be what they are called to be.  That is why Jesus in today's gospel tells the people that: "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.  Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you . . . ."  Jesus respects the priesthood; he holds the scribes and the Pharisees as a movement in very high regard.  His beef is with bad priesthood, bad scribes and bad Pharisees.  He challenges them to rise to the fullness of their calling.  Jesus does not wish to throw the baby out with the bath water. 

Today, for example, priests are called "Father;" and fathers in God we must be.  Fathers care for their flock, their spiritual family, by feeding them with worthy sacraments, correct teaching and good direction.  Personally, about fifteen years ago, at the height of the abuse crisis, I decided that I would always wear my clerical attire in public.  The purpose was not to seek attention for myself, but to keep the priesthood in the public.  And thankfully, virtually all the people I have met, at Walgreens or at Wal-Mart, on a bus or at an airport, have appreciated that I identify myself as priest and have come to speak to me about God. 

But if we want good priests, we must do something about making good priests. We must support our priests, especially when they go astray.  This support can take the form of counselling them, even challenging them and especially praying for them.  I cannot count how many times parishioners, even my own mother, have helped me to become a better priest, by saying or doing something to challenge me.  How else will they know unless someone says something? 

And just in case you might be tempted, to think that the teaching of Jesus applies only to priests, remember, you exercise your own authority, either as a parent or grandparent, a teacher or other leadership position.  Can you learn something from these indictments against the priests, about what not to do in your own leadership? 

1. Unlike the priests of the prophet Malachi's time, do you give good instruction to those under your care, speaking the truth in charity, so that they are not led astray by ignorance? 
2. Unlike the Pharisees and scribes, do you lead by example and not just by words?  Do your actions match your words? 
3. Unlike the priests and bishops that Pope Francis often criticizes for rigidity and being closed inwards, do you extend warmth and a personal interest in those you lead? 

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Conclusion 

May the ever-relevant challenges from Jesus, from the prophets and from our Holy Father, continue to inspire us all, both clergy and laity, to never settle for mediocrity.  May we always aim to be perfect as our heavenly Fathers is perfect.