Paul's Reflections 31st Sunday in ordinary time, year A. Homily 30th October , 2011

Homily 30th October , 2011      31st Sunday in ordinary time, year A

 

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The readings this weekend depict an age-old problem of abuse of power and double standards.  The readings are really strongly worded and they sure tell us a lot about what God thinks of those who misuse their authority and miss the whole point of their role… // service and love.

 

Interestingly, Jesus in his teaching makes a very strong distinction.  He criticises the leadership of his day for not practising what they preach. He attacks their scandalous hypocrisy, but he refuses to deny their teaching authority.  Rather, he bemoans the fact that they are not living up to what they are teaching.

 

This is a rather novel approach.  Too often we hear people saying..   they don’t believe in religion because too many things have been done that don’t live up to the teachings. But, it seems that is actually throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

 

“Jesus tells his disciples to follow the teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees, because the truth is always the truth.  But he warns them to be suspicious of their own practice of what they are teaching.

 

To use an analogy…  a maths teacher is still correct when they teach their subject irrespective of whether they are a nice person on not.. 

 

It is a thought-provoking concept..   how many times have you heard someone say..  ‘I won’t listen to such and such..  because they have a nerve tell me what to do.. look at their own life… they can’t talk….   “   but that misses the point..  ‘do as I say.. don’t do as I do…”   

 

I have always found it ironic…  for example…  there may be an older person who (in their own life) has really been through the wringer!   They have had a hard life and made many mistakes and they try to warn a young person  not to make the same mistakes as they have. But they are rebuffed and told.. ‘you can talk.. look at your own life.”  but in fact, that person has missed the point..  they actually CAN talk… they know what mistakes they have made and they are trying to get the other to not have to learn the hard way..    they are inviting the person to learn from another’s mistakes without having to make it themselves..   but too often people are dismissed when they probably have so much to say…    just because they have been educated in the school of hard knocks…  .

 

Jesus teaches us to listen and learn from anyone who has something worthwhile to say….   But to be discerning about the contradiction of their actions.

 

People who reject the Christian message because of the sins of the people who profess to follow the gospel,  forget that Jesus never gave anyone permission to do the wrong thing. Jesus never told people to abuse their position and live in a hypocritical way..

 

In many ways, I subscribe to the great quote from the English Writer G.K. Chesterton when he says:  (to paraphrase)… “it is not that Christianity doesn’t work… its just that nobody has really tried it yet! “    We should not blame God for the failures of his disciples to live up to his Gospel.

 

But that is not to excuse or minimise the enormous harm that is done when people fail to live up to the message of Jesus…   but let’s not get complacent…

 

St Paul’s second reading is a refreshing contrast to the failures of the religious leaders of Jesus time.  St paul is a different kind of leader.  Although Jesus criticises those who take on titles and make a big show of outward appearances to the detriment of others around them, St Paul speaks from the heart.  He is so passionate about his fellow Christians. He has come among them as a brother and yet has enormous attachment to them…  like a mother or a father has for their beloved sons and daughters…    St Paul came into the community to assist them and not be burden to them. He worries about them like a parent and speaks up to encourage or rebuke them only for their good and for the good of the gospel.  This is so different from those Jesus taught against. They want to make themselves better than others, they create double standards and forget they are there for the support and up-building of others and not to meet their own selfish needs. 

 

Jesus teaching is virtually always positive. Its not about “don’t do this and don’t do that”  he leaves those kinds of words to his enemies. He devotes his actions and his teachings to the opposite..   being loving, serving others, being like a brother, sister, mother, father for others…    and caring for what is best for those around them..

 

Jesus had no time for ‘don’t do this and don’t do that’   he was too busy (rather) DOING what was worthwhile…   and encouraging people to do the same…   when someone stopped him and told him ‘you shouldn’t have healed that person, you shouldn’t have forgiven that man, you shouldn’t have included that woman…”  he was already off onto the next good work….  That, I think is the key to the message of Jesus…

 

Positive, not negative…

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·          Break Open the Word 2011

·          My Daily Visitor Sep-October 2011