Mal 1:14-2:2, 8-10; 1Thess 2:7b-9, 13; Matt 23:1-12
One of the shared criticisms directed at Catholics by our Protestant fundamentalist brethren especially the Born-again Christian groups (whom as someone called as Born-against Christians), is about the address we give to our Pope as “Holy Father” and the priests as “Fathers”. They say that this is against the teaching of Christ in the Bible. They cited today’s gospel especially in verse 9 that says: “…do not call anyone your father, only one is your father, the one in heaven.”
If we follow this kind of interpretation, it is an absurd interpretation. If taken literally, the word would forbid us to call our natural father as ‘father.’ What will be the feeling of Mr. Reyes if his children would not address him as ‘father’ or papa or daddy or tatay in Tagalog. Instead, his children would call his name. Will he agree? I’m sure he will not. May be he is going to scold or get angry with them especially that for us Filipinos, we have a great respect for the elders. Then, how are we to call our schoolteachers, ‘teachers’ if there is only one teacher?
What Christ wants us to teach is that, our concern should not be after honors, worldly dignity and crave for first places in gatherings. If we extend our helping hands to others in need, we should not be proud of it that it is coming from us but rather, we should announce that it is coming from God because we don’t have as our own. We just doing our job and not expecting any return. Our expression would be: “Trabaho lang ‘to walang personalan.”
Why Jesus forbids His disciples to use these titles: father and teacher? Even St. Paul called himself as the father of the Corinthians (1Cor 4:15)? It is because these can be abused and misused. It is in the abused sense, these titles are forbidden of being used. Many used their titles, positions in government and organizations and honors to threaten, to look down other people, to exploit, deprive and oppress other people. What is happening now? There is abuse of power especially those in the government and you can cite examples even by yourselves.
The message of today’s gospel is a clear warning also to all who hold office and authority in God’s church whether as bishops, priests and superiors. Instead of being servants of all servants of God, they become their masters.
However, this gospel also applies to all of us who are here. Like for example, the parents used their authority as parents to justify what they are doing instead of listening to their children’s plea. For our government official, instead of fighting with each other, insulting each other and hitting below the belt, pocketing the money for projects because of SOP (or Standard Operating Procedure), how about implementing projects that are for people so that people may love and support them? As somebody would say: “Tulungan huwag gulangan.”
In other words, it is service that matters. If we want to become great human beings and outstanding Christians, then we must serve the rest. Our service might taken the form of meeting their physical and material needs like: washing or cooking meals for the family and many more. It is a small thing but taken for granted. In the eyes of God it is the greatest performance we ever have.
Our service might taken the form of caring for the emotional and psychological needs of others like offering them companionship when they are down and friendship, speaking words of hope and encouragement, showing acceptance and giving recognition.
Another form of service might be to meet the spiritual and faith needs of others like giving good examples, living simple lifestyles and many more.
What is our feeling now when we hear Jesus criticizing the Pharisees? Are we happy? Are we satisfied or sad and sorrow because like the Pharisees, we are also hit by such criticism?
See Today’s Readings: Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)
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