Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10: We hear the voice of God in warning, through the words of the prophet Malachi. God gives a warning to the priests that their attitude toward worship is callous and superficial; rendering their sacrifices to God, offensive. When God commands that the priests make stronger and more sincere efforts to “give glory to (God’s) Name,” God is meaning that priests aren’t currently honoring God’s Presence, as reasonably expected. They aren’t offering to God the best quality animal sacrifices and are using lower quality and flawed offerings, in order to save the best for themselves. The “stinginess” of the priests belies their prioritizing their own pleasures over their worship and respect for God. This offense calls for punishment and their cavalier attitude warrants God’s correction.

Psalm 131: “In You, Lord, I have found my peace.” This beautiful psalm expresses the author’s trust in God. The psalm describes the serenity that comes from self-surrender to contemplation on the unspeakable holiness of God’s Presence. This exultation in God’s Presence enables the adoring soul to relinquish all other vain pursuits of goals that merely distract one from adoration and worship of God. The psalmist becomes known to us as an attentive and responsive servant; who sees as his primary purpose, glorification and worship of God. Perhaps, this week we can form a plan to spend more time in adoration and worship of Jesus in the Most Holy and Blessed Sacrament. Time spent in front of the Blessed Sacrament is never wasted, and unarguably produces huge benefits for the souls of those who regularly avail themselves of this most important devotion!

1 Thess 2:7b-9, 13: With his use of plural pronouns, “we,” “us,” and “our,” Paul is referring to Sylvanus, Timothy and himself. Paul is emphasizing how the three of them worked as a cooperative team, in order to fulfill their evangelistic mission among the Thessalonians. Paul tenderly describes the character of their missionary efforts as gentle and loving: using the metaphor of a mother’s care for her children. As Paul suggests, this “parental” commitment to the Church and its new members requires almost total self-sacrifice and willingness to toil, despite fatigue, scarce resources, persecution and sometimes lack of appreciation.
Lastly, Paul humbly thanks the Thessalonians for their receptivity to the Word of God, which Paul and others had worked so hard to share with them. Paul praises their openness to God’s Word and their reverence for Scripture. We might consider this week how we might better and more consciously reverence God in Scripture, as well as in our reception of the Sacraments.

Matt 23:1-12: Today’s Gospel message combines well with our first reading from Malachi. The priests in Jesus’ day, the scribes and Pharisees, are being confronted, as the priests were, by Malachi. Jesus confronts the scribes and Pharisees about their lack of authenticity in their attitudes about the Law, religious practices and their lack of compassion for the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable. Jesus condemns their pride and self-centered focus; noting how their greed burdens others who are oppressed by their taking advantage of those less fortunate.

Lastly, Jesus warns that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and that those who humble themselves shall be exalted. Let’s take some time to consider whether we’ll be humbled or exalted. We can work on our attitude, as needed!

Deacon Matt