Commentary
Sunday, 11/5/2017, The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Respect the LORD or Else
First Reading Commentary: Malachi 1:4b-2:2b, 8-10
To understand today’s reading from Malachi, once again, we have to forget what the dictionary says about the word: fear. In this reading, the LORD says that His name will be feared among the nations. That is true but God has never wanted us to be afraid of Him.
The message here is all about respect. The LORD is demanding His respect and giving a very stern warning to anyone who chooses not to give Him respect. The LORD is making the point that He is above all other things and therefore deserves all glory. A curse, the LORD promises, to send on those who do not give glory to His name and the LORD also promises to make a curse of their blessings.
Again, God does not want us to be afraid of Him. God does want us to respect Him and that is non-negotiable. If we do not give God all glory, He does not want us around Him nor does He want those who we influence around Him. That is the curse! The problem is that the curse of God not wanting us around Him can only mean one thing—hell!
Who are those that we influence? We influence our children. We may also influence anyone to whom we share God’s Word. We definitely influence anyone who listens to us and seeks spiritual advice from us. In some ways, we influence our friends. These people are a blessing to us. They are the blessings that become cursed. By listening to our instruction or by emulating us, they also fail to give God His glory and become cursed.
What’s more, God holds us contemptable. In other words, God blames us for their failure and God holds us accountable. This is not the only time in Scripture where we are given the message from God, that He will punish the sinner who does not repent, but a much worse punishment goes to the one who led the other into sin.
The LORD references the covenant of Levi which was a covenant of friendship. Refer to Numbers 25:12. Levi was not only promised a friendship with the LORD. Levi’s covenant was an anointing of priesthood. This reminds us of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In the context of today’s prophecy from Malachi, the connection to Holy Orders tells us that priests have a special responsibility to tell the truth when spreading and sharing the Word. That is one explanation why Jesus had no tolerance for the Pharisees who were hypocrites.
But here is the beauty in today’s prophecy. Malachi asks the questions, “Have we not all the one father? Has not the one God created us?” No one is any better than another and no one is above another. We are all created by God and He loves us all the same. The friendship promised to Levi is also promised to us and all we have to do to enjoy that friendship is give God His respect—Give God all glory.
The Word at Work within Us
Second Reading Commentary: 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13
Another message that can be taken from Malachi’s prophecy is that God gave Himself to us. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul tells the Thessalonians that he and the other Apostles gave themselves to the Thessalonians. In fact, it is clear that Paul and the Apostles gave all of themselves to the Thessalonians in the same way, as much as it is humanly possible, as Christ had given all of Himself. This means that Paul and the Apostles gave all of themselves just as God gives all of Himself.
Paul said that he and the Apostles were as gentle as a nursing mother with affection and a determination to share the gospel of God. In other words, they cared for the Thessalonians in the same way that God cares for us. Paul also reminded the Thessalonians of the toil and drudgery that he and the Apostles had gone through because of their love for the Thessalonians.
There is no greater love than God’s love for all of us. But here we learn that Paul and the Apostles did their very best to love all people as much as God loves us all. Nothing more can be expected of us than to do our very best and we do our very best when we love God and also love each other as much as we love ourselves. That is what Paul and the Apostles did. They put their words into action and practiced what they preached.
And then, Paul and the Apostles took a step further. They did exactly what Malachi tells us to do in today’s prophecy—in the form of gratitude, they gave glory to God. Paul said, “…we too give thanks to God unceasingly…” The operative word being: unceasingly. We can never say, “Thank you” to God enough for everything that He has given us. But we should never stop trying either!
Grateful for having the opportunity to share God’s Word with the Thessalonians, Paul ends this part of his letter by telling them that God’s Word is at work in all who believe. Temptation is all around us and never goes away because the evil one is persistent and determined to keep us away from God. For this reason, we must always be vigilant as we strive to stay away from sin. But our faith will never let us stray too far. It is our faith that keeps God’s Word at work within us.
Not for Pride but for Closeness with God
Gospel Commentary: Matthew 23:1-12
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues the theme of equality using the Pharisees as the prime example of how we should not be toward each other. Jesus says that the scribes and Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. That’s no surprise considering the fact that the Pharisees considered themselves to be better than everyone else. They thought so much of themselves that as far as they were concerned, no one else had anything to say. Everyone was supposed to listen to them.
Well, to some extent, people were supposed to listen to them. The Pharisees were Scripture scholars and knew the Law thoroughly. They also had no problem giving the Law to everyone else. So, Jesus said, “Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you…”
However, the Pharisees took great pride in knowing the Law and they wanted to show off their knowledge to everyone else. That is why they were so willing to give the Law. Their intention was not to share the Word of God but to put themselves on a pedestal above everyone else. So, Jesus continued, “…but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Have you ever heard the expression, “Practice what you preach?” Now you know where it came from.
The Pharisees laid down the Law in a way that was very difficult for people to obey the Law and did nothing to help and gave no consolation or compassion. The exact opposite of what God entrusted them to do and the exact opposite of the way that God treats us.
Everything that the Pharisees did was done for recognition. Everywhere that the Pharisees went was so that they could be seen. Sounds like some modern-day politicians. They should get to know this Gospel and then they should best be careful.
Jesus said that the Pharisees widened their phylacteries. A phylactery is a small leather box containing slips of paper with Scripture written on them. These boxes are worn on the arm of Orthodox Jewish men. By making their boxes bigger, the Pharisees were making a non-verbal proclamation that they knew more than everyone else and were therefore, better than everyone else.
Jesus then told the crowds how they really should be toward each other and that is to treat each other as equals. True, there are people who have certain titles because of their position of responsibility. But that does not mean that we should consider those people as being any more important in God’s eyes than we are ourselves. As Malachi told us today, we have but one Father.
That is why, Jesus said that we should not call anyone Rabbi or father or Master. We have one Rabbi—Teacher. He is Jesus. We have one Father who is in heaven. We have one Master. He is Christ, the King of Kings and the One who will judge us all.
Jesus said, "the greatest among you must be your servant" Therefore, whoever we give a title to in acknowledgement of their position of leadership, is to serve us by making us stronger and better than we already are. This means that religious leaders should not seek fame and recognition. Instead, they are supposed to bring us closer to God. In fact, anyone who shares the Word of God should do so by treating everyone as equals and with the intent of bringing others closer to God. This message is in Malachi's prophecy, Paul's letter and is what this Gospel is about.
