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Reflection on the Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 30)

by Theresa Orlando

The readings for this Sunday:

Malachi 1: 14b-2: 2b, 8-10

I Thessalonians 2:7b-9,13

Matthew 23: 1-12

The full text of the readings can be found here.

What’s in a name? In today’s readings there are a number of names or titles: King, Lord, priest, father, brother, sister, mother, scribe, Pharisee, rabbi and servant. Most names have a meaning and titles usually designate a person’s status in life or in relationship.

When I was young, I didn’t like my name so I made up a nickname to use. As I got involved in Religious Education and discovered the meaning of my name (harvester) I reclaimed and embraced my name. I have tried to live up to my name and sometimes I have succeeded and other times I have failed. But, I keep trying. Do you know what your name means? Look it up and see if there is an indication of what God is calling you to become. “I have summoned you by name, you are mine.” Is. 43:1

That’s sort of the theme that runs through today’s reading, the struggle between being authentic to the name, title or call one has been given.

In Malachi, a harsh message is delivered. It is one of the hardest readings to digest and a difficult one to proclaim if you are the lector. This could be a very contemporary reading if we are to mirror it against our current society and our Church. How many ways have we broken faith with one another? Just count the ways: war in Iraq, victims of Katrina, systemic racism, greed and consumerism and scandals in our politics and within our Church. When will we return to the covenant of out ancestors. “To live justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” Micah 6:8

When we move to Paul’s letter we have the very comforting image of the nursing mother as the metaphor for what the Gospel is to be for us. Our daughter-in-law is currently nursing our 9-month-old grandson and the unique bond that is evident when he is with her is a glimpse of the kind of relationship God has in mind for us. The “Good News” is that through Jesus Christ, God has total outpouring of self to us. This God who reveals self a mother, father, Son, friend, servant, wisdom and Spirit desires only for us to love him/her and to care for one another as a mother/father cares for their child. Our God knows whom we are and is constantly inviting us to grow and become the person God summoned us to be.

Jesus words to the Scribes and Pharisees have a harsh ring of truth for our Church today. For so many of us in the pews or on the altar, we do not practice what we preach and celebrate. The admonishment about the titles is not so much about the title, but about living up to what the title or name symbolizes.

Jesus is telling us that the greatest title is that of the servant. The servant model is the one demonstrated most authentically by Jesus throughout his life and especially in his death and resurrection. This is the model of the nursing mother giving self to the child. It is the model of the rescuers in Mississippi who had lost their own homes and yet were out saving others. This is the model that is called forth from Micah and it is the way to the Reign of God.