Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Malachi”
by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11

Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts,

and my name will be feared among the nations.

And now, O priests, this commandment is for you:

If you do not listen,

if you do not lay it to heart,

to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts,

I will send a curse upon you

and of your blessing I will make a curse.

You have turned aside from the way,

and have caused many to falter by your instruction;

you have made void the covenant of Levi,

says the LORD of hosts.

I, therefore, have made you contemptible

and base before all the people,

since you do not keep my ways,

but show partiality in your decisions.

Have we not all the one father?

Has not the one God created us?

Why then do we break faith with one another,

violating the covenant of our fathers?

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Commentary on Mal 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

This passage captures the heart of the second oracle of the Prophet Malachi.  The primary focus of this oracle (or burden) focuses on the sins of the Hebrew Priests.  The prophet, speaking with the authority of God, lays a curse on the priests who have failed to follow their calling and in so doing “…have made void the covenant of Levi” (see Deuteronomy 18:1-8; Deuteronomy 33:8-11) which established the authority of the priesthood in return for faithful service to God in word and ritual.  Not only does Malachi lay God’s curse upon them because the have failed to fulfill their service and fulfill their covenantal duties, he also causes their own representation of God in the priesthood to loose its efficacy.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 131:1, 2, 3

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,

nor are my eyes haughty;

I busy not myself with great things,

nor with things too sublime for me.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted

my soul like a weaned child.

Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,

so is my soul within me.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,

both now and forever.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

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Commentary on Ps 131:1, 2, 3

Psalm 131 is an individual lament praying for harmony and humility among the members of the community; the singer proclaims trust in the Lord and peace, like a child’s contented peace, in that trust.

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Reading II: 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13

Brothers and sisters:

We were gentle among you, as 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 very selves as well,

so dearly beloved had you become to us.

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.

Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,

we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,

that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,

you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God,

which is now at work in you who believe.

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Commentary on 1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13

St. Paul again uses himself as an example of authentic Christian witness.  He first reiterates his familial love for the members of the faith community.  He goes on to remind them that, when he was with them, proclaiming the Gospel, he did not burden them with his up-keep.  Rather he took up his profession and worked to support himself. 

The passage concludes in v. 13 telling the community that by seeing is selfless devotion to not only the Word of God which he proclaimed but also his love of them in human terms, they would understand both the spirit and the application of the Gospel he preached,  In seeing this they would understand its divine inspiration.

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Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

"The scribes and the Pharisees

have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

but do not follow their example.

For they preach but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry

and lay them on people's shoulders,

but they will not lift a finger to move them.

All their works are performed to be seen.

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'

As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Call no one on earth your father;

you have but one Father in heaven.

Do not be called 'Master';

you have but one master, the Christ.

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

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Commentary on Mt 23:1-12

The Gospel continues the theme of authentic worship (that is worship that changes the actions of the faithful). Matthew gives us Jesus discourse that upholds the Law of Moses and at the same time chastises those who misuse it. He describes in detail how the scribes burden the people with ritual but do not practice that same law. The complaint is twofold, fist is the rigor with which the law is interpreted (“They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders”) and second is hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees (“All their works are performed to be seen.”) (see also Matthew 6:1-8, 16:18).

The selection continues with an interpretation of Christian leadership which is one of humility and compassion rather than one of prideful superiority. “These verses, warning against the use of various titles, are addressed to the disciples alone. While only the title "Rabbi' has been said to be used in addressing the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:7), the implication is that Father and "Master' also were. The prohibition of these titles to the disciples suggests that their use was present in Matthew's church. The Matthean Jesus forbids not only the titles but the spirit of superiority and pride that is shown by their acceptance. Whoever exalts . . . will be exalted: cf Luke 14:11.”[4]

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Reflection:

At first glance, the scripture today seems directed primarily at the Clergy.  Clearly the Prophet Malachi blasts the Hebrew Priests of his day.  At the beginning of the oracle not proclaimed today, he goes into detail about how slovenly the priestly ritual had become with little attention to the prescribed rites and violations of prohibitions found within Hebrew Law.  In addition the had apparently forgotten that their duty was to the whole people; to be exercised impartially for the benefit of all and without personal gain.

In St. Matthew’s Gospel we hear the Lord similarly upbraiding the Scribes and Pharisees for failing to live the message they were charged with proclaiming.  He points out how these leaders have insisted that the people of their community scrupulously follow Mosaic Law (which the Lord supports).  But they do not follow the spirit of the Law which they impose.  Jesus criticizes them for their lack of humility; implying they have forgotten that it is God they serve.

St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Thessalonians points to his own example; almost as if he had taken the Lord’s criticism of his former colleagues to heart.  He points out his humble and even demeaning service to the community of faith.  Telling them that because of his great love for them, he sacrificed his rightful authority in order that they might see and understand the Gospel he brought to them.

We could certainly accept that scripture lays a great burden on the Clergy through these passages; and we would be right.  Accepting the yoke of service as one called to ordained ministry places a special burden on those so called.  But the call of Malachi, the exhortation of Christ, and the example of St. Paul are not for them alone but for each of us.  We are all called to be witnesses of Christ’s Gospel.  If we accept that responsibility, the exhortations of our Savior, who fulfills the Law and Prophets, fall squarely on our shoulders as well.  Our actions in the secular world must match our spirituality in ritual.  Our expression of the Gospel in the Creed must be demonstrated through humble service to others.

Indeed, the Clergy are reminded today of what they must never forget.  Yet all of the faithful are called to learn from these exhortations and transform the world though our love for one another to the glory of our Lord and King.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “Malachi” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] See NAB footnote on Matthew 23:8-12