The Teaching Of God’s Word

 

When we love, we live what we teach.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, November 5th, 2023
Texts: Malachi 1:14-2:2.8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9.13; Matthew 23:1-12 

Today is about the teaching of God’s word, which is the office of priests. Priests are to teach and instruct the people the ways of the Lord. Priest guides and guard us on the path of salvation by their knowledge of God. God affirms, today, that Priest is a source of knowledge about Himself and His covenant with His people.  

What responsibility does this place on priests? Priests are to devote themselves to knowledge. Since what they teach is God’s word they are to listen to Him. They are to be in the presence of God always so as not to miss any of His word. It also shows that priests are indispensable in the world.  

 Priests deserve our listening hears

Jesus Christ tells us, today, that priests deserve our listening hears in so far they speak God’s word. He says, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” Our ways of life might not worth your emulation but our word worth your obedience.  

Always listen to us when we speak God’s word, for therein is your salvation. Hence, St. Paul says, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 

A priest who corrupts the word is a wolf in sheep clothing

We become a disaster, a double tragedy, when we corrupt the word. A priest who teaches the word but does not live it is still charitable to certain extent. He still loves the people. A priest who corrupts the word is a wolf in sheep clothing, a thief who has come to decimate the people of God. God warns us thus: “And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the  Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you.” 

What is God’s accusation against us You? God says, “You have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the  Lord of hosts”.  

God also tells us what will become of us for corrupting His words. He says, “and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction." Priests are to give up personal interest and favouritism while speaking God’s word. They are to speak nothing but God’s word. We lose our right of obedience when we corrupt God’s word.  

Priests are to be men of faith

A priest shows he is faithless when he corrupts God’s word. In the prophetic words of Malachi: “Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?” Hence, priests are to be men of faith. A priest who has no faith cannot be on the side of God.  

St. Paul remains a model for us, priests, in the teaching office. He lived what he preached. In today’s second reading he says, “We were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” He tells us the driving force of his commitment to them: “because you had become very dear to us.” Love is the driving force. When we love, we live what we teach. 

Humility and service to others are ways to greatness

Jesus Christ teaches us, today, that humility and service to others are ways to greatness. He says, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Today’s second reading shows that St. Paul fulfils it: He served others in humility. This shows that we can fulfil it too. 

Prayer 

Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service, grant, we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling to receive the things you have promised. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke