Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is taken from the book of the prophet Malachi. In the entire three year liturgical cycle, only twice do we read from this minor prophet. The name Malachi means “My Messenger,” and is written by an anonymous author. The author does not reveal his or her identity because the prophecies of the book contain trenchant criticism of the priest and rulers of the people. And so it is very intriguing that the church has chosen this reading that is downright critical of the priests of the time as one of the two times we hear from Malachi.
Why did Malachi prophesy against the priests and rulers? The people of Israel had just returned from the Babylonian exile. The exile was interpreted by all the prophets to be caused by the infidelity of the rulers and religious leaders. Those who cared about the nation has reason to be anxious that Israel should not return to its old ways of infidelity to the Covenant and disregard for the religious and social laws that God had laid out for them. The sin that the priests were committing at that time was they had dishonored God by offering blemished sacrifices that people were bringing to them. In this sense, even though today’s readings talks about priests, Malachi also was critical of those people in the community who brought these blemished animals for sacrifice and those whose marriage with pagans was jeopardizing that integrity of the community.
What Malachi did in today’s first reading, Jesus repeats in the gospel reading. He gets very critical of the Pharisees because they preach but do not practice and all their works are performed to be seen by others. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
The bottom line is that religious leaders bear the brunt of God in today’s readings. As we look at modern history of child abuse, the abuse of power and authority, clericalism and conceit, it seems that it is not all bad that religious leaders take this weekend to take a hard look at their call to be representative of God and rededicate themselves to their sacred tasks.
In light of these reading, I as a priest and you as lay people, let us remember the bottom line is this: "The greatest among you must be your servant.Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Fr. Satish Joseph