Tuesday of the 2nd
Week of Lent
March 3, 2015 8:30am
Today’s gospel leads me to two thoughts.
First, we cannot take the
Scripture out of context.
In today’s passage, the context
is that Jesus is trying to shake some of the religious leaders of his day out
of their self-absorption and self-righteousness.
Right at the beginning of the
passage, it says that he is speaking to some scribes and Pharisees – not all,
but some of the religious leaders.
Apparently, this group was very
intent on being recognized for their position and even for their supposed
holiness.
That’s the context for Jesus
telling them not to use the titles of teacher or rabbi or father.
He wants them – and us – to
realize that they are not God but servants of God.
God, not the scribes and Pharisees
and not we priests and teachers today, God is the source of holiness and wisdom
and enlightenment.
We are just God’s vehicles or
instruments.
So the problem is not in the
titles, but in the way the titles were being used.
That is why the context of this
passage and of much of the Scripture is important for understanding Jesus’ real
point.
My second observation really
flows from the first.
We who have titles – whether I as
a priest with the title of Father or a catechist with the title of teacher – we
need to remember to include ourselves in whatever exhortations or teachings we
make.
Only if we do that can we be sure
that we are not falling into the trap – the self-absorption and
self-righteousness – that this group of scribes and Pharisees had fallen into.
We remain human and on the same
journey of life in the Lord as anyone else.
We need to preach to and of
ourselves as much as to or of anyone else.
That’s what today’s gospel raises
in me.
