Call no one Teacher, Father or Master

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Gerard Majella Church

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

October 30, 2011

Some people who do not want to be Christians sometimes argue that the hypocrisy of Christians is the reason for their refusal to become  Christians. They argue that the Church is full of hypocrites. Some Catholics who left the Church sometimes call the Church all sorts of bad names, saying that some of her leaders do not practice what they preach. They will waste no time in pointing out priests or religious who abused children or women and accuse them for being responsible for their exit from the Church. For these people, the Church does not practice what she preaches. Their accusations have some truths in it. But then, the sins of some priests and religious do not invalidate the teachings of the Catholic Church. What is wrong is not what the Church is teaching. What is wrong is the failure or refusal of some of the Church’s leaders and the laity to observe the Lord’s law of love. If Albert Einstein were arrested for stealing, would that make his theory wrong? 

In today’s gospel taken from Matthew 23: 1-12, Jesus tells those who would refuse to follow the teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees to reconsider their decision: “The Scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” It is actually wrong to compare  the Catholic Church with the Scribes and Pharisees because the Church has had and continues to have countless Church leaders- bishops, priests, deacons, religious etc who lived or live exemplary lives. Moreover, the wrong deed of a Church leader does not invalidate the entire teachings of the Church. 

To his disciples and to the crowds, Jesus says, “...do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.” The Lord is simply saying, do not be the hypocrites that these people are. The hypocrisy of another should not prevent us from growing in our relationship with God. The refusal of a Christian to be authentic should not be our reason not to be authentic. The failure of a priest  should not cause our failures as well. Jesus did not ask his first listeners to leave the Synagogues or to abandon the practice of their faith. He did not tell them to use the weakness of the Pharisee and Scribes as a reason to leave their faith. Rather Jesus says, yes, I understand the hypocrisy of these leaders; they do not practice what they preach. But their teachings and preachings are in order. Therefore, practice what they preach, but do not follow their examples. Unfortunately, many Christians of today will stop the practice of their faith just because a member of the Church has fallen. But those who have a strong relationship with Jesus do not leave. They understand that salvation, though a universal call, but in the end  it's a personal thing. They understand that nothing will separate them from the love of the Lord. St. Paul in Romans 8:35 says, “What can separate us from the love of Christ? Is it trouble, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?

In today’s gospel, Jesus outlines his reasons for denouncing the Scribes and Pharisees. First, they imposed heavy burdens on others that they were unwilling to carry. These burdens are contained in the 613 rules and laws in the Law of Moses. Apart from these laws, there were also customs and observances that were difficult to obey. Second, the Scribes and Pharisees’ deeds were all for shows; they wanted people to see them as pious and deeply religious. They wanted their reward from the people and not from God, so to say. Thirdly, these religious leaders craved for worldly honors, praise and respect because of their important office. Whatever they do is for human praise and adoration and nothing more. 

Today, Jesus tells us not to be like them, not because they are evil people but because they missed the point. They missed the meaning of religion. “They have a form of religion but denies its powers that would have made them godly.” They missed what is really going on. While they move around looking for someone to teach the way of life, God has already sent the Way and the Life, Jesus Christ. 

And what does Jesus teach us? He teaches us that God is love; that God is our Father. He teaches us not to call anyone Rabbi because he, Jesus, is the good Teacher; he teaches us not to call anyone Father, because his Father is our Father; he teaches us not to call anyone Master, for he is the authentic Master. He teaches us that life does not consists in accumulating wealth but in the service of God and humanity. He teaches us that the only path to greatness is not by seeking greatness but by serving God and others. He teaches us that “anyone can be great because anyone can serve.” He teaches us that those who raise themselves ahead of others will be humbled; and those who humble themselves will be exalted. In Matthew 5:5 he says, “Blessed are the meek, the humble, for they will receive what God has promised.”  

Jesus does not ask us not to call anyone teacher, father, master in a literal sense, but in a strict sense. Of course, those who taught us and those who teach our children are teachers, but they are not Jesus the great teacher; they cannot teach us God like Jesus would. Everyone of us had or has a father, but our fathers are not like God the Father. They are not the source of life. They cannot love us as God does. Of course there are masters all over the world; but they are not the Master of life. Only Jesus is! Jesus is asking us not to equate anyone with him or with his Father. Only God is the true Father. Only Jesus is the true Teacher. Only Jesus is the Master. Only Jesus is the Lord.