Reflection for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
(Mal 1:14-2:2.8-10, 1Thes 23:1-12, Mt 23:1-12)
Hypocrisy, among other things, is
a burden. This is an important lesson from today’s readings. The person, who is
first laden with this burden, equally transfers it to others, especially his
audience. This burden is so dicey that the one who bears it might not recognize
it easily. In other words, it is difficult for one to identify himself as a
hypocrite. There is one way out of this
problem.
The immediate victims of
hypocrisy from the readings are those who occupy the chair of Moses. Since a priest is called from among his
brothers (cf. Heb 5:1), and God calls the weak to shame the strong (cf. 1Cor
1:27), it is easy for the minister of God to battle between being mere human
and living out his authentic divine vocation. Hypocrisy is a way of life, where
one habitually lives contrary to what he teaches or stands for. Through the
prophet Malachi, God announces his displeasure on priests who cause others to
stumble and water down the covenant.
From St Paul’s authentic witness
among the Thessalonians, it is obvious that the preacher of the Gospel must be
personally committed and affectionate like a nursing mother to her baby. This
cannot be so if he is not personally touched by what he preaches. By bearing
the message upon himself, the priest brings healing to the people. Therefore,
it is only those who bear the yoke of Christ can be true minsters of the
Gospel, through whom the faithful are relieved. “Yes, my yoke is easy and my
burden light” (Mt 11:30). “Always we carry with us in our body the death of
Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body” (2Cor 4:10).
The Cross is the point of departure.
The Pharisees rejected Jesus, the
Truth. Since they were not living out what they preached, they had to burden
themselves with many externalities. And in order to impress the people, they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and
lay them on men’s shoulders. This is the same with some preachers of today.
Once the imprint of the Cross, the yoke of Christ, is not in their lives, they
divert their energies to lots of other things in order to acquire sense of
relevance. Whenever a priest’s sense of relevance is rooted in something other
than salvation of souls, he has laden himself with the yeast of the Pharisees (cf. Mt 16:6-12). The priest has to live
out what he preaches. This is how he allows himself to be sustained by Christ
Jesus, so that through him, Jesus will liberate the people.
The burden of hypocrisy is on
everyone who is not true to his/her vocation. For example, imagine the load
upon an unfaithful husband who warns his children against fornication? The same
goes for the corrupt politician who promises what he cannot do. Hypocrisy rears
its head when people live dishonest lives, or raise themselves above their
standard of living. Titles and positions are for service; to untie the burden
on people. Most importantly, the burden of hypocrisy is equally laden on the
faithful church member who does not accept the Gospel for what it really is,
God’s word, and not some human thinking (1Thes 2:13). Such a believer hinges
his/her faith on personalities. Those who
worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (cf. Jn 4:24).
“Accursed be anyone who trusts in human beings, who relies on human strength”
(Jer 17:5). However it comes, hypocrisy seeks vainglory and undue sense of
relevance.
“Whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23:12). The triumph
of the Cross is our victory over hypocrisy. Jesus has borne our burden upon
Himself on the Cross. Our participation in His victory, by accepting our
crosses each day, is our only escape from the burden of hypocrisy. “So if the
Son sets you free, you will indeed be free” (Jn 8:36). Any priest or preacher
who does not project Christ, but infuses himself within the message, adds heavy
burden upon the people. Unless we bear the yoke of Christ, the imprint of the
Cross in our bodies, we remained burdened, and cannot lighten other’s burdens.
Jesus is our only Master. “You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am”
(Jn 13:13). Yes, as we follow Him humbly, bearing authentic witness, He exalts
us, and liberates us from the burden of hypocrisy.
_________________________________________
Fr
Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
St
Francis Catholic Church,
College
Road, Off Ekenwan Road,
Benin
City, Nigeria.
5
November, 2017.
