The readings for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, invite us to examine our relationship with God and with one another. They challenge us to be sincere in our faith, responsible in our leadership, humble in our conduct, and generous in our service.
First Reading: Malachi 1:14b–2:2b, 8–10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 131
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:7b–9, 13
Gospel: Matthew 23:1–12
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In the first reading, the prophet Malachi speaks strongly against the priests who have failed in their sacred responsibility. They were supposed to lead the people towards God, teach His commandments faithfully, and set a good example. Instead, they had departed from God’s way and caused others to stumble. The problem was not simply that they were imperfect human beings. The problem was that they were not taking their responsibility seriously. They were entrusted with the things of God, yet their conduct was dishonoring Him. This reading reminds us that religious responsibility is a privilege, but it is also a serious duty. A priest is called to preach the Gospel and live it. A catechist is called to teach the faith and practise it. Parents are called to bring up their children in the ways of God and demonstrate those ways through their own example. Church leaders and all the faithful are called to make Christ visible through their words and actions.
However, this message is not meant only for priests, religious leaders, or people who hold positions in the Church. Every Christian has a responsibility to represent Christ in the world. What happens when a Christian speaks about forgiveness but refuses to forgive? What happens when we pray for the poor but exploit workers? What happens when we come to Mass every Sunday but return home to insult, humiliate, or mistreat our family members? Our religious practices become empty when they are separated from love, justice, and sincerity. Malachi therefore invites us to examine the quality of our faith. God deserves more than outward religious observance. He deserves our whole heart. We should not come to church merely to be seen by others, nor should we serve in the Church simply to gain influence. We should do these things because we love God and want to do His will. A faith that honors God must also honor the people whom God has created.
In the second reading, St Paul gives us a wonderful example of Christian leadership. He tells the Thessalonians that he and his companions were gentle among them, like a nursing mother caring for her children. He reminds them of the love they showed and of their willingness to work hard so that they would not become a burden to the community. Notice the contrast between the attitude of Paul and the behavior condemned in the first reading. The leaders criticized by Malachi had failed in their responsibility. Paul, on the other hand, demonstrates that genuine ministry requires tenderness, sacrifice, and personal commitment. Paul did not see the people as instruments to be used for his own benefit. He saw them as people entrusted to his care. He did not preach merely to impress them; he wanted them to encounter the living Word of God.
This is an important lesson for every Christian leader. A good leader does not ask only, “What can these people do for me?” A good leader asks, “What can I do to help these people grow?” A good parent does not merely demand obedience from children but gives them love, guidance, and a good example. A good teacher does not simply complete the syllabus but patiently helps students learn. A good priest does not merely perform religious duties but accompanies the people entrusted to his care. A good parishioner does not serve only when people are watching but remains faithful even when nobody offers praise. Paul also reminds us that the Word of God is at work in those who believe. When we listen to God’s Word, we should not treat it as ordinary human advice. We should allow it to challenge our attitudes, heal our relationships, correct our mistakes, and transform our behavior. It is possible to hear the Gospel every Sunday and remain unchanged. We may know many biblical passages and still struggle to love our neighbors. We may know the teachings of Jesus and still refuse to forgive someone who has hurt us. The question is not merely whether we have heard God’s Word. The question is whether we have allowed it to work within us. The Word of God becomes fruitful when it moves from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts into our actions.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the crowds and His disciples concerning the scribes and Pharisees. He acknowledges their teaching responsibility but criticizes the inconsistency between what they teach and how they live. Jesus says: “Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” These words are direct, challenging, and deeply relevant to our lives today. Jesus is not condemning every religious leader or saying that all the scribes and Pharisees were bad people. Rather, He exposes the danger of religious hypocrisy: teaching God’s commandments while refusing to live according to them.
Jesus warns against people who impose burdens on others but are unwilling to help carry them. This is a danger that can affect any of us. A parent may demand honesty from a child but tell lies in the child’s presence. An employer may demand hard work but treat employees unfairly. A church leader may insist that others be punctual while constantly disregarding time. A Christian may preach forgiveness while holding on to bitterness for years. We must be careful not to demand from others what we are unwilling to practice ourselves. Of course, nobody is perfect. We all have weaknesses and shortcomings. The Christian life is a journey of conversion. Jesus is not asking us to pretend that we never fail. He is asking us to be sincere enough to recognize our failures and humble enough to change. When we make a mistake, we should be willing to apologies. When we hurt someone, we should seek reconciliation. When we discover that our conduct contradicts the Gospel, we should return to Christ and begin again. The world does not need Christians who pretend to be perfect. It needs Christians who are genuinely striving to become more like Jesus.
Jesus also criticizes those who love places of honor, public greetings, and titles that make them appear superior to others. There is nothing inherently wrong with having a title or holding a position of responsibility. The problem arises when the title becomes more important than the mission. Sometimes we are willing to serve only if our names are announced. We want to be thanked publicly. We want to sit in the most prominent place. We become offended if someone else receives the recognition we expected. But what happens when we serve and nobody notices? What happens when we visit the sick and nobody thanks us? What happens when we give money to someone in need and nobody knows about it? What happens when we work quietly in the parish and someone else receives the praise? Will we still serve? True Christian service is not measured by the number of people who applaud us. It is measured by the love with which we serve. Jesus Himself washed the feet of His disciples. He touched the sick, welcomed sinners, fed the hungry, and gave His life for humanity. He did not come to establish His greatness by dominating others. He revealed His greatness through self-giving love. Therefore, we must ask ourselves: Am I serving God, or am I using God’s service to promote myself? This question is especially important for those who hold responsibilities in the Church, but it is equally important for every Christian. If we can serve only when we are praised, we may be serving our pride more than we are serving God.
Jesus gives us the heart of today’s Gospel when He says: “The greatest among you must be your servant.” This teaching turns the world’s understanding of greatness upside down. The world often measures greatness by wealth, influence, status, education, or the number of people who obey us. Jesus measures greatness by humility, love, sacrifice, and service. According to Jesus, greatness is not about how many people serve us but how many people we are willing to serve. Consider a mother who wakes up at night to care for a sick child. Consider a father who works honestly and sacrifices his comfort for the good of his family. Consider a young person who visits an elderly neighbor who has nobody to talk to. Consider a parishioner who quietly cleans the church without expecting recognition. These actions may never make the news. They may not earn awards or public applause. Yet they reveal something of the greatness of Christ. The Gospel concludes by reminding us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted. God sees what human beings often overlook. He sees the hidden sacrifices, the quiet acts of kindness, the prayers offered in secret, and the love shown when nobody is watching. Let us therefore stop measuring our importance by our position and begin measuring it by our willingness to love.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a beautiful lesson we can draw from today’s Gospel: every Christian is called to preach, but not everyone preaches from a pulpit. A parent preaches through the way they love their children. A husband and wife preach through their faithfulness to each other. A teacher preaches through patience and fairness. A worker preaches through honesty. A young person preaches through respect and responsibility. A church leader preaches through humble service. Our lives are constantly communicating something about the God we believe in. When we are compassionate, we make God’s compassion visible. When we forgive, we reveal God’s mercy. When we serve without pride, we reflect the humility of Christ. When our words and actions agree, our witness becomes credible. Let us remember that Jesus did not merely tell us to love; He loved us first. He did not merely speak about sacrifice; He gave His life for us. He did not merely teach humility; He humbled Himself and became the servant of all. He is our model and our strength. As we approach the altar to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, let us ask for the grace to become what we receive: a people who carry Christ’s love into our homes, workplaces, communities, and the wider world. May we never become Christians who speak beautifully about God but fail to show His love. May we never seek positions without accepting responsibility, or recognition without sacrifice. Instead, may our words be sincere, our hearts humble, and our hands ready to serve. Let us not merely preach the Gospel with our lips; let us proclaim it through the way we live. Amen.