Living The Proclaimed values: Talk and do!

(Homily 31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A)

          The word of God of this Sunday seem to be addressed practically to priests, and to all that have the responsibility of preaching and proclaiming the Gospel in and out of season (2Tm. 4:2). Today’s readings are joined together by the overriding theme of priesthood and ministry. As the first reading (Mal. 1:14b-2:2b.8-10) and the Gospel (Mt. 23:1-12) hinge on denunciations addressed to the priests of Israel and the Scribes and Pharisees respectively, the responsorial psalm (Ps. 131) and the second reading (1Th. 2:7-9.13), present the feminine imagery: mother and nurse, while the psalmist rests in Yahweh like a child on his mother’s bosom, St. Paul presents himself in his pastoral ministry among the Thessalonians as like a nurse taking care of her children. Today, more than ever, we need to rediscover the values of pastoral sensibility and care.

          As we read in the first reading and the Gospel, prophet Malachi and Christ respectively cautioned the Jewish priests and the Scribes and Pharisees of living a double standard life. However, today the Church proposes to us, Christians, followers of Christ and especially ministers of the Gospel, the words of prophet Malachi and that of Christ, so that we can reflect profoundly on them. I think it is not out of place to reflect on the correspondence of our words with our actions, especially as we draw closer to the end of the liturgical year. A pertinent question emerges from the context of the aforementioned readings thus: how have we/I been able to put into action all that we/I preaching to others? Are my reflections fruit of my daily experience and encounter with the person of the Crucified and Risen Christ? Indeed, the liturgy of the Word of this Sunday serves as an invitation to us, for a thorough examination of conscience. The Word of God invites us to talk less and do more.

          In the context of the Gospel Jesus reproached the scribes and Pharisees, he reproofs them on the following:

►Incoherence: what they say and teach to others do not tally with what they do. “They talk but they don’t do” (Mt.23:3b), “they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Mt. 23:4).

►Hypocrisy and vain glory: they love to be theatral, and love attracting the attention of all. They are hysterical in their preaching and teaching. “Everything they do is done to attract attention” (Mt. 23:5).

►Presumption and Pride: “they love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in market places and the salutation Rabbi” (Mt. 23:6-7). They have a sense of superiority and tend to distance themselves from the people.

          In the same vein, prophet Malachi in the first reading denounces some of the behavior of the Jewish priests of his time: “you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction” (Mal. 2:8). Of course the words of Malachi are not only addressed only to priests, but to all of us that are baptized, for we all share in the Common priesthood of Christ, and as such all Christian leaders and ministers. We have enough to reflect on, as it is suggestive of the prophecy of Malachi. In our various missions and ministries sometimes we can make others to falter, we can pose to be an obstacle to their spiritual and moral growth, instead of standing as a helper and as one who spurs the people of God on. We can become a stumbling block to souls when:

►we are not living a coherent life, for we are called to be models and to lead exemplary life. But sometimes is possible that our lives are filled with defects that contradict our words of preaching.

►we are sometimes carried away by vain glory, and as such, at times one may be tempted to present himself instead of Christ. We ought to do everything for the glory of God. Contrarily, amongst us there are those that seek applause, consensus and admiration of the people. The psalmist understood this and said: “not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory, for your faithful love and your constancy” (Ps. 115:1).

►we fail to be humble listeners of the Word of God, out of pride, but we have to be humble and attentive listeners of the Word of God and faithful servants of it (Word) too. Let us remember that “out of God’s mercy, we are called to the ministry” (2Cor. 4:1).

          Honestly, on this Sunday to say it with the psalmist, “deep is calling on deep”! As we do our examination of conscience and pray the healing mercy prayer: “Kyrie eleison”, let us ask for God’s mercy for the times we have preached ourselves instead of Jesus Christ, the times we have presented to the people of God a false and imaginary god, far from the True God, the times we have preached anti-gospels to the people of God through our actions, for the moments we have preached a glorious and rich Christ forgetting the Cross. Or as Christians sometimes we have failed to be courageous witnesses of Christ and His Gospel in morally and spiritually perverse world.

          Indeed, we are called today to reflect on how we have been able to close the gap between our words and actions. And the second reading offers us a wonderful model of the priesthood in and through the figure of St. Paul. St. Paul said that he was lovable like a mother towards the Christians of Thessalonica, that he was desirous of not only given them the Gospel, but also his life for them. And from the passage of this second reading emanates few guidelines on how we ought to be:

●It reminds us that like St. Paul we have to be persons who love souls (Christians) profoundly like a mother loves her children. Thus, persons who are disposed to give our life for our brothers and sisters, by and through our selfless service. Loving them like mother also alludes to spiritual fruitfulness, are we capable of generating children for God spiritually?

●We ought to be persons with the unique aim of bringing the Gospel of Christ, the Word of God to the people of God without mystification and mitigation.

●We need to be capable of dedicating more time to the preaching of the Gospel and less time to the pursuit of projects and money, for in the words of St. Paul “for you remember our labor and toil brethren, we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the Gospel of God” (1Th. 2:9). However, we do not intend in any way to denigrate the words of the same apostle that “a laborer deserves his wages” (1Tm. 5:18).

          To you my dear lay brothers and sisters, maybe the readings of today at first sight and if not properly reflected upon, may provoke a certain sense of criticism and the pointing of accusing fingers on the priests and ministers of the Word. It goes without saying that in our world today, there is an increasing tendency towards the accusation and the criticism of priests. Criticism is often used as a tool to discredit others, because often these accusations and criticisms are over-generalized and unfounded. Sometimes it is presented as if there is nothing good in those we criticize, or as if there are no more holy, authentic and “priests-victims” to say it with Bishop Fulton Sheen, still in our world today. Let our desire for criticism not blindfold us before the numerous good works and sacrifices being done by a good number of our priests.

          Today when we talk about the priests and ministers of the Gospel, there is danger of a single story, because is as if all are wicked, materialistic and selfish. But I stand to correct that impression, not merely because am a minister, but because my daily experience has proven it so. There are still holy, selfless and priest models. We cannot forget the effort of those priests, who even with their human limitations are filled with zeal and passion for Christ and his Gospel, and with pastoral readiness and spontaneity towards the people of God. We cannot but remember those of them who continue to sacrifice their life daily in emulation of Jesus the Good Shepherd. The effort of those priests who trek daily and those that travel by sea just for the desire of bringing Christ to the people cannot go unmentioned.

          In all, to you my dear lay brothers and sisters St. Paul said something exceedingly inspiring in the second reading, he thanks God for the Thessalonians because they welcomed the word of God for what it really is, God’s word and not some human thinking. And God’s word is indeed, an efficacious word that changes and transforms those who believe in it. You need to have this fundamental inner disposition towards God’s word, welcoming it as God’s word and not as the word of the priest. I assure you dear friends whoever listens to the Word of God with this type of disposition can never go home the same! Let us pray so that the Word may bring forth fruit in our lives, for His Word is efficient and efficacious.

          My dear brothers and sisters, today more than ever we are called to be close to our priests with fraternal affection, with advice, with prayer and generous collaboration. May God help us not to be believers that are not believable! May God continue to bless His Church with holy priests, holy ministers and with good and authentic Christians!! May God help us all!!!

(Fada Vitus M.C. Unegbu)

          The word of God of this Sunday seem to be addressed practically to priests, and to all that have the responsibility of preaching and proclaiming the Gospel in and out of season (2Tm. 4:2). Today’s readings are joined together by the overriding theme of priesthood and ministry. As the first reading (Mal. 1:14b-2:2b.8-10) and the Gospel (Mt. 23:1-12) hinge on denunciations addressed to the priests of Israel and the Scribes and Pharisees respectively, the responsorial psalm (Ps. 131) and the second reading (1Th. 2:7-9.13), present the feminine imagery: mother and nurse, while the psalmist rests in Yahweh like a child on his mother’s bosom, St. Paul presents himself in his pastoral ministry among the Thessalonians as like a nurse taking care of her children. Today, more than ever, we need to rediscover the values of pastoral sensibility and care.

          As we read in the first reading and the Gospel, prophet Malachi and Christ respectively cautioned the Jewish priests and the Scribes and Pharisees of living a double standard life. However, today the Church proposes to us, Christians, followers of Christ and especially ministers of the Gospel, the words of prophet Malachi and that of Christ, so that we can reflect profoundly on them. I think it is not out of place to reflect on the correspondence of our words with our actions, especially as we draw closer to the end of the liturgical year. A pertinent question emerges from the context of the aforementioned readings thus: how have we/I been able to put into action all that we/I preaching to others? Are my reflections fruit of my daily experience and encounter with the person of the Crucified and Risen Christ? Indeed, the liturgy of the Word of this Sunday serves as an invitation to us, for a thorough examination of conscience. The Word of God invites us to talk less and do more.

          In the context of the Gospel Jesus reproached the scribes and Pharisees, he reproofs them on the following:

►Incoherence: what they say and teach to others do not tally with what they do. “They talk but they don’t do” (Mt.23:3b), “they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Mt. 23:4).

►Hypocrisy and vain glory: they love to be theatral, and love attracting the attention of all. They are hysterical in their preaching and teaching. “Everything they do is done to attract attention” (Mt. 23:5).

►Presumption and Pride: “they love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in market places and the salutation Rabbi” (Mt. 23:6-7). They have a sense of superiority and tend to distance themselves from the people.

          In the same vein, prophet Malachi in the first reading denounces some of the behavior of the Jewish priests of his time: “you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction” (Mal. 2:8). Of course the words of Malachi are not only addressed only to priests, but to all of us that are baptized, for we all share in the Common priesthood of Christ, and as such all Christian leaders and ministers. We have enough to reflect on, as it is suggestive of the prophecy of Malachi. In our various missions and ministries sometimes we can make others to falter, we can pose to be an obstacle to their spiritual and moral growth, instead of standing as a helper and as one who spurs the people of God on. We can become a stumbling block to souls when:

►we are not living a coherent life, for we are called to be models and to lead exemplary life. But sometimes is possible that our lives are filled with defects that contradict our words of preaching.

►we are sometimes carried away by vain glory, and as such, at times one may be tempted to present himself instead of Christ. We ought to do everything for the glory of God. Contrarily, amongst us there are those that seek applause, consensus and admiration of the people. The psalmist understood this and said: “not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory, for your faithful love and your constancy” (Ps. 115:1).

►we fail to be humble listeners of the Word of God, out of pride, but we have to be humble and attentive listeners of the Word of God and faithful servants of it (Word) too. Let us remember that “out of God’s mercy, we are called to the ministry” (2Cor. 4:1).

          Honestly, on this Sunday to say it with the psalmist, “deep is calling on deep”! As we do our examination of conscience and pray the healing mercy prayer: “Kyrie eleison”, let us ask for God’s mercy for the times we have preached ourselves instead of Jesus Christ, the times we have presented to the people of God a false and imaginary god, far from the True God, the times we have preached anti-gospels to the people of God through our actions, for the moments we have preached a glorious and rich Christ forgetting the Cross. Or as Christians sometimes we have failed to be courageous witnesses of Christ and His Gospel in morally and spiritually perverse world.

          Indeed, we are called today to reflect on how we have been able to close the gap between our words and actions. And the second reading offers us a wonderful model of the priesthood in and through the figure of St. Paul. St. Paul said that he was lovable like a mother towards the Christians of Thessalonica, that he was desirous of not only given them the Gospel, but also his life for them. And from the passage of this second reading emanates few guidelines on how we ought to be:

●It reminds us that like St. Paul we have to be persons who love souls (Christians) profoundly like a mother loves her children. Thus, persons who are disposed to give our life for our brothers and sisters, by and through our selfless service. Loving them like mother also alludes to spiritual fruitfulness, are we capable of generating children for God spiritually?

●We ought to be persons with the unique aim of bringing the Gospel of Christ, the Word of God to the people of God without mystification and mitigation.

●We need to be capable of dedicating more time to the preaching of the Gospel and less time to the pursuit of projects and money, for in the words of St. Paul “for you remember our labor and toil brethren, we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the Gospel of God” (1Th. 2:9). However, we do not intend in any way to denigrate the words of the same apostle that “a laborer deserves his wages” (1Tm. 5:18).

          To you my dear lay brothers and sisters, maybe the readings of today at first sight and if not properly reflected upon, may provoke a certain sense of criticism and the pointing of accusing fingers on the priests and ministers of the Word. It goes without saying that in our world today, there is an increasing tendency towards the accusation and the criticism of priests. Criticism is often used as a tool to discredit others, because often these accusations and criticisms are over-generalized and unfounded. Sometimes it is presented as if there is nothing good in those we criticize, or as if there are no more holy, authentic and “priests-victims” to say it with Bishop Fulton Sheen, still in our world today. Let our desire for criticism not blindfold us before the numerous good works and sacrifices being done by a good number of our priests.

          Today when we talk about the priests and ministers of the Gospel, there is danger of a single story, because is as if all are wicked, materialistic and selfish. But I stand to correct that impression, not merely because am a minister, but because my daily experience has proven it so. There are still holy, selfless and priest models. We cannot forget the effort of those priests, who even with their human limitations are filled with zeal and passion for Christ and his Gospel, and with pastoral readiness and spontaneity towards the people of God. We cannot but remember those of them who continue to sacrifice their life daily in emulation of Jesus the Good Shepherd. The effort of those priests who trek daily and those that travel by sea just for the desire of bringing Christ to the people cannot go unmentioned.

          In all, to you my dear lay brothers and sisters St. Paul said something exceedingly inspiring in the second reading, he thanks God for the Thessalonians because they welcomed the word of God for what it really is, God’s word and not some human thinking. And God’s word is indeed, an efficacious word that changes and transforms those who believe in it. You need to have this fundamental inner disposition towards God’s word, welcoming it as God’s word and not as the word of the priest. I assure you dear friends whoever listens to the Word of God with this type of disposition can never go home the same! Let us pray so that the Word may bring forth fruit in our lives, for His Word is efficient and efficacious.

          My dear brothers and sisters, today more than ever we are called to be close to our priests with fraternal affection, with advice, with prayer and generous collaboration. May God help us not to be believers that are not believable! May God continue to bless His Church with holy priests, holy ministers and with good and authentic Christians!! May God help us all!!!

(Fada Vitus M.C. Unegbu)