The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be humble and sincere examples to the people on our journey of love that rules our actions.
1st reading from the Prophet Malachi describes the Covenant profaned by Judah.
* [2:8] The covenant of Levi: not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. The covenant with Phinehas the grandson of Aaron (Nm 25:11–13) and the Blessing of Levi (Dt 33:8–11) may lie in the background. (Malachi, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 131 is a Song of Quiet Trust.
* [Psalm 131] A song of trust, in which the psalmist gives up self-sufficiency (Ps 131:1), like a babe enjoying the comfort of its mother’s lap (Ps 131:2), thus providing a model for Israel’s faith (Ps 131:3). (Psalms, PSALM 131 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians describes his ministry among them.
* [2:7] Gentle: many excellent manuscripts read “infants” (nēpioi), but “gentle” (ēpioi) better suits the context here. (1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus offers a denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees.
* [23:8–12] 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 (Mt 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. Lk 14:11. (Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley ponders the reality that just because someone was in a position of authority be it in work, in education, in church, in government -- it wasn’t a guarantee of correct behavior. Policies in any of those environments may speak to the “high road” and one could assume that activities would be laudable as well. However, the actions were/are at times reminiscent of the “road not taken.”
It seems even more important as I reach my mid-70s with less time ahead of me than behind me, that those around me, especially my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren see congruency in my actions and words. As I’ve mentioned previously in these reflections, I truly believe that my life is God’s gift to me and what I do with it, is my gift to God. What do others see? What do my grandchildren see? Is this belief evident in what they see? Hear? Ooh, my feet of clay still show . . .
Two songs to convey what my words may be lacking – the second one to remind those of my generation when we first started singing of our love so clearly!!
To Not Worship You MercyMe By Our Love for King & Country (Shirley, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” by Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"For nothing is as crucial as the practice of modesty. This is why he is continually reminding them of this virtue, both when he brought the children into the midst and now. Even when he was preaching on the mount, beginning the Beatitudes, this is where he began. And in this passage he plucks up pride by the roots, saying, 'Whoever humbles himself will be exalted' (Luke 14:11). See how he draws off the hearer right over to the contrary thing. For not only does he forbid him to set his heart upon the first place but also requires him to follow after the last. For so shall you obtain your desire, he says. So one who pursues his own desire for the first must follow after in the last place: 'Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'
"And where will we find this humility? Go to the city of virtue, to the tents of the holy men, to the mountains, to the groves (ascetics who live holy lives). There you may see this height of humility. For these persons, some illustrious from their rank in the world, some having had wealth, in every way put themselves down, by their dress, by their dwelling, by those to whom they serve. As if they were written characters, they throughout all things are writing the story of humility." (quote from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 72.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12 comments that Jesus also said that his opponents placed burdens on people but did not “lift a finger” to help them (Matthew 23:4). By contrast, Jesus used the image of a yoke to describe his “burden.” A yoke is an instrument that links two oxen together so they can help each other bear the load. And that’s the point: Jesus wants to yoke himself to us so that he can walk beside us and help to lighten our burden.
Finally, and most important, the burdens of Jesus’ opponents were made up of human regulations and restrictions, of additional fasts and tithes, that could not bring people closer to God. But the exact opposite happens when we accept Jesus’ yoke. We come into an ever-deepening relationship with him. And that relationship fills us with the joy and comfort of his own Spirit.
So come to Jesus today. Let him yoke himself to you in a bond of everlasting love.
“Jesus, thank you that your burden is light!” (Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the condemnation offered by Malachi for priests of Israel for not using love to follow the Law. Paul expresses “mothers love” as necessary for the Thessalonians in this passage and “father’s love” in other places as crucial to understand the changes we need to make. Friar Jude reminds us of Jewish exaggeration as he suggests difficulty that may arise from priests with the title “Father” and the temptation to ignore the requirement to exercise authority in service.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, summarizes the good news of God’s freely-given grace. This grace was defined even in the old Baltimore Catechism as “that which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God.” We always knew it on paper, but much less by way of experience and therefore inner conviction.
Unless and until we understand the biblical concept of God’s unmerited favor, God’s unaccountable love, most of the biblical text cannot be interpreted or tied together in any positive way. It is, without a doubt, the key and the code to everything transformative in the Bible. People who have not experienced the radical character of grace will always misinterpret the meaning and major direction of the Bible. The Bible will become a burden, obligation, and weapon more than a gift.
Grace cannot be understood by any ledger of merits and demerits. It cannot be held to patterns of buying, losing, earning, achieving, or manipulating, which is unfortunately where most of us live our lives. Grace is quite literally “for the taking.” It is God eternally giving away God—for nothing, except the giving itself. I believe grace is the life energy that makes flowers bloom, animals lovingly raise their young, babies smile, and planets remain in their orbits—for no good reason whatsoever except love alone. (Rohr, 2023)
We are reminded of our giftedness in our relationships with family and friends and we seek the guidance of the Spirit to work humbly and with integrity for love and compassion in our environment.
References
Malachi, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/malachi/2
Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23?1
Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/05/821232/
1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/2?7
Psalms, PSALM 131 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/131?1
Rohr, R. (2023, November 5). Unmerited Generosity — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/unmerited-generosity/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Whoever Humbles Oneself Will Be Exalted. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov5
Shirley, N. (2023, November 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110523.html
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