31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mal 1:14b – 2: 2b, 8-10; 1 Thes 2: 7b-9, 13; Mt 23: 1-12
Deacon Larry Brockman
Hypocrisy and pride! These are central themes in our readings today. And those who acted as priests of the people were the central characters. But in the New Covenant, all of us are made priests, prophets, and kings at Baptism. And so, these words of warning by the prophet Malachi and by Jesus apply to all of us in our roles as Baptized people.
During each Mass, we hear that Jesus is a priest forever in the line of the high priest Melchisedek, Have you ever wondered what that means? Well, in the days of Abraham and earlier, priests of the High God were first born sons and Kings. They offered first fruits as priestly offerings and they governed either their families or tribes as king.
That all changed during the Exodus when the Israelis fashioned a golden Calf for their God. Through Moses, God established the Levitical Priesthood to atone for this great sin of the Israelis. The animal offerings they offered were a constant reminder of that sin and their need to keep the Law. But these offerings would never be able to atone for sin because they were offered by an imperfect priest who had to be from the tribe of Levi. God promised to favor his people if they kept his laws. But the Israelis broke the Law of the Covenant over and over.
In the time of King David, the Lord promised a Messiah from the house of Judah, not from the house of Levi One who would be a first born son. He would be a Priest and King, like Melchisedek of Old.
For the last two months I have been leading a Bible Study on the book of Hebrews. The central theme of Hebrews is that the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant became obsolete and was replaced by the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and his Apostles through the Church. Jesus fulfilled the promise made to King David. He was a first born Son from the house of Judah, not a Levite. The sacrificial offering of himself on the cross and subsequent Resurrection and Ascension accomplished what the Old Covenant priesthood could never do.
In our first reading, Malachi points to another fault of the Old Testament Priests. In Malachi’s days these priests also served as judges- arbitrators of the law. Malachi calls these priests biased and hypocritical by showing partiality in their decisions and giving false instruction in the law. Moreover, he accuses them of pride- doing what they do to be seen and to take places of honor, rather than out of conviction.
Jesus has similar things to say about the Pharisees. The Pharisees were teachers of the law; they offered no animal sacrifices as the Levite Priests did. To remind themselves of the law, they would write the ten commandments on pieces of cloth, and then attach them to their clothes as the phylacteries. Jesus said that they loved places of honor and would burden people with the letter of the law, but that they had no heart. Jesus is repulsed by them calling themselves Rabbis, Teachers because just like the priests in Malachi’s time, they were hypocrites and prideful leaders. They were supposed to be spiritual fathers, but they were not teaching how to live the law in their hearts. Rather, they were only looking after their own interests.
Rightfully, Jesus points out that we have one true spiritual father- God. Jesus served his Father as Priest and King, and was our Father model, made in the image and likeness of his Father. Jesus always deferred to the will of his Father. He lived a humble life and did everything from the heart. He delegated that Priestly role to our ordained priests at the Last Supper. That’s why we call our priests Father today, because they serve in the role as the High priest, Jesus Christ, every time they offer Mass.
The really good news is that by virtue of our Baptisms, we have returned to the ancient custom of anointing our children as Priests, Prophets and Kings. That is why Fathers are heads of their families, and priests of the domestic church, the home. It is an awesome responsibility.
Our second reading from 1 Thessalonians gives a clear contrast between the Old Testament priesthood and the New Testament priesthood. For Paul reminds the Thessalonians that while he was with them he served as their Pries. After his Baptism and conversion of his heart, Paul preached the Gospel to the Thessalonians with affection. He treated them with kindness and gentleness, as a mother cares for her children. He did all that while continuing to care for himself by working, not expecting or accepting compensation for his efforts. This was a man who preached the law from the heart, and practiced what he preached. And as a result, his efforts bore much fruit. Paul was the great evangelizer and apostle to the Gentiles.
My dear people, all of you are called in Baptism to be priests, prophets and kings. You are called to accept the word of God and the teachings of the church in your hearts- your faith; and by word and deed, to live and project that faith. You are called to be humble Fathers to your families, and great evangelizers in this secular world of hypocrites and prideful people.
