Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR A THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR Mal 1,14-2,2.8-10; 1 Thess ,7-9.13; Mt 23,1-12 Servants of all, not Hypocrites Acting with integrity. This is the last Sunday, when Matthew keeps us in the Temple of Jerusalem: here, Jesus confonts the religious authorities of his time & Matthew confronts the opposing parties in his Chistian community: Judaizers, politicians, Pharisees, Torah- Teachers etc. Reflected in the text, we see already a split between Judaisn & Christianity, between Synagogue and Church. Jesus moves daringly on the offensive, demonstrating the bankrupcy of his opponents, pronouncing judgment on them. We sense at the same time, that for Jesus there is no turning back: the path to Calvary looms in the horizon. Matthew names five serious evils, against which people of all time need to be warned: 1. hypocrisy, or saying one thing & doing another. 2. meticulously setting rules on others, and arguing a way out for ourselves. 3. lacking compassion, in imposing burdens on others. 4. doing things for show, to draw people’s attention. 5. Being arrogant and power-seeker, thus abusing the perks of Office. Chapter 23 of Matthew is famous for the "Woes" of Jesus: seven fiery denunciations with which Jesus accuses those who seek to destroy him. They are not to be taken as objective, historical description of 1st Century Judaism in Jerusalem. Rather they are Matthew’s passionate way of attacking the evil tendencies in human nature: at Jesus’ time, in the Jewish Synagogue during Mattew’s life, in the Christian community of any time. We are all warned to avoid double standards and all sorts of titles or trappings, that easily develop among power-hungry people. Christ stands in opposition to any manipulation of people, any lifeless casuistry, any appeal to ‘holy rules’ & customs. Matthew knows that the will of God is to be found in Sacred Scripture, but he insists that Jesus as Messiah and Son of God, is the only authoritative guide to unlock the meaning of God’s word and God’s will for us. One Master, one Catechist: the Christ: The charge against evil leaders is clear: they say but do not do; and what they do is only for show and for manupulation of people. Matthew tags these leaders as ‘Hypocryte’, a word that comes from the language of the theatre, to indicate an actor, one who is behind a mask to simulate & impersonate a role in a play. The tag of ‘simulator’ (hypo-crytes) -both in and out of the Church- is attached to all who insist on law, routine and custom, while they argue a way out for themselves. With increasing harshness, Jesus condemns Torah-teachers & Pharisees for double standards. They deserve condemnation because they are rebellious (just as their ancestors were in the desert), murdering past and present prophets, including Jesus. Chapter 23 of Matthew ends with a sad lamentation over the city of Jerusalem: tragically, it had become a centre of atrocities, & soon would be left desolate. God’s abandonment of the now un-holy city of Jerusalem is literally acted out by Jesus, who delivered his condemnation & then left the Temple for the last time, never to return (24,1). Matthew warns us, about the dangers hidden in any exercise of leadership. No leader, then or now, does not need to be warned against the danger of corruption of power: to both parties, traditional & liberal, Matthew says: do not be like the ‘Scribes & Pharisees’ of Jesus’ time. On a positive note, Matthew says to us: For us Christians, Christ is not a vague identity of ‘Messia-Son-of-God’: He is our only Master - our Lord - the Risen Lord - the anointed Christ of God - the only one leader - teacher, instructor, catechist. Under him we are all fellow students, fellow servants and waiters. Here, those who wish to be first must become servant of all. ______________________________________ |
