Has not the One God Created us?

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 05, 2023

Readings: Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12

  To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here:  https://youtu.be/RADostfk5lo 

As we begin this month of November and remember all those who died in Christ and have gone before us, the reality of life and death is ever present before us. The month, with its shorter days and longer nights,  serves as a somber backdrop to the profound mystery of our mortal journey. It is a period marked distinctly by the solemnity of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, where the Christian community pauses to honor and pray for those who have departed this world in the hope of resurrection. The vibrant leaves falling from the trees are like a metaphor for the cycle of life, death, and the hope of new life that the Christian faith professes. We are also in the midst of wars and bloodshed, death and destruction. The state of Manipur in India is still reeling under violence. Along with the Ukraine-Russia armed conflict, the Hamas-Israel war is seeing new dimensions of modern warfare. In this context, the liturgical readings on this 31st Sunday of the Ordinary Year, invite us to be God-centered in order to live in peace and harmony. 

1. Reverence for the Divine: Allowing God to be God

One of the minor prophets in the Old Testament, Malachi has a profound message today. Here the prophet speaks for God. God expresses His displeasure with the priests, the spiritual leaders of Israel, for their failure to honor Him and their deviation from His ways. Even though, they are a chosen race, God has a stern warning to them: if they do not take heed, their blessings will become curses. The priests are accused of causing others to stumble by their teachings and showing partiality in applying the law, which goes against the covenantal relationship established between God and His people.

The call to honor the name of the Lord Almighty is as relevant today as it was in Malachi's time. In a world of competing loyalties and distractions, selfish tendencies and egoism, men and women of today are challenged to hold God’s name and His presence with reverence. This is not merely about respect within a place of worship but about carrying a sense of the sacred into all areas of life, recognizing that the Divine Lord seeks a living relationship with His people. It could be in our workplaces, homes, places of worship, religious communities and monasteries. 

2. Integrity in Leadership is the hallmark of doing God's Will

The criticism levied at the priests for leading the people astray serves as a sober reminder to all who are in positions of spiritual leadership. Pastors, ministers, and lay leaders alike must adhere to a life of integrity and coherence ensuring that their actions do not cause others to stumble. The call to lead is a call to serve, and in our service, we must aim to uplift and edify without showing favoritism or partiality. Probably religious leaders have more temptations than simple ordinary people. Being a steward is indeed to be faithful to God and responsible to those people who are entrusted to his or her care. It is a social responsibility where one has to examine one's actions, decisions and the system of which one is part. 

The question posed by the prophet, "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?" (Malachi 2:10) is a profound reminder of the interconnectedness of the human family. In an era marked by division and individualism, this reflection invites believers to look at one another through the lens of shared divine creation and covenant relationships. It asks us to evaluate how we treat each other and how we might, even unknowingly, profane our communal covenant through acts of unfaithfulness or injustice to one another.

3. Authenticity in Faith demonstrates Servant Leadership

Matthew 23:1-12 offers a poignant critique of hypocrisy and a call to humility from Jesus. He warns against seeking titles and accolades, emphasizing service and equality under God.  In a world where image and positions of power often trump substance, Jesus’ words challenge us to consider the authenticity of our faith. Are we, like the Pharisees, more concerned with appearances than with the genuine practice of our beliefs? Modern believers are called to embody their faith with sincerity, ensuring that their actions are consistent with their words. The fact is that before God we are all equal. So every individual must be treated with dignity, respect, and the right attitude. 

Jesus’ model of leadership is service, not self-exaltation. In a society that often celebrates power and status, the command to be servants to one another is countercultural and like going against the current. It requires modern men and women of faith to adopt a posture of humility, seeking to uplift others rather than seeking positions of authority for their own sake. Believers today are urged to be conscious of how their actions, directly or indirectly, might burden others, and to strive to be sources of support and encouragement instead.

As we delve deeper into the intricacies of faith and its practice, God continues to encourage us to see the reality of life and death anew. We are called for a renewed commitment to living out the principles of the Gospel. The heart of the Christian message of love, service and of humility should be engraved in our lives. The transient nature of our earthly existence and the enduring belief in a life hereafter must enable us to see the delicate balance between life and death. We are called to live with intention and purpose, to cherish every moment granted to us, and to hold steadfast to the hope that through Christ, death is but a horizon and God is our horizon. 

Questions for self-reflection:

1. How do my actions align with the teachings and values I profess? Am I consistent in both private and public life?
2. What does servant leadership look like in my own context? Am I serving others or seeking to be served?
3. Do I seek recognition for my actions? How does it make me feel when my efforts go unnoticed?

Prayer based on Psalm 131: 

Heavenly Father, in the quiet of this moment, I seek to come before You with the same spirit of humility that the psalmist David expressed in Psalm 131. Lord, calm and quiet my soul like a weaned child with its mother; like that child, may my soul be within me. I lay down the pretense of self-importance, the noisy clamor of my own desires, and the pursuit of accolades. Instead, I rest in Your comforting presence, trusting You completely for all that I need. Teach me to walk in humility, to live with a gentle and lowly heart, finding peace and contentment in Your loving care.

In this stillness, O Lord, may I place all my expectations, my dreams, and my anxieties in Your capable hands, trusting that Your plans are greater than my own. Let Your peace fill me as I hope in You, now and forevermore. I make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name,  Amen.

Olvin Veigas, SJ

November 03, 2023