Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 26th August 2023

Conscious of my own sins and shortcomings, I always find it difficult to accuse others of theirs, especially our political leaders and others. However, it’s the fashion of the age, fuelled by the media, to tear others to pieces, even in the Church. I find it particularly upsetting when people criticise the Holy Father, Pope Francis. On whose authority do these people speak? Are they guided by the Holy Spirit, more so than the Holy Father himself? Often there is arrogance, pride and sheer viciousness combined in what they say and in how they say it. Do they think they are doing the Lord a service by sowing division and fermenting hatred in his Church? What makes them so sure that they’re right and the Successor off Peter is wrong? Jesus disliked hypocrisy and often spoke out against it, especially in the scribes and Pharisees. We find him talking about it in today’s Gospel from Matthew, (Mt 23: 1-12).

 

“Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

  ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

 

​At no time does Jesus say that his disciples or the people in general should disobey the teaching of the religious leaders of his day. They are to follow their teaching but not their example, for they do not practise what they teach others. Jesus criticises their ostentatious and pretentious ways, always seeking the privileges that derive from their position in society. They lack humility and a generous spirit, what we might call a pastoral spirit, that would help others come closer to God by keeping the Law. So keen are they on the title of Rabbi that Jesus tells his disciples that they must never allow ordinary folk to call them by that name, or by the title of father. Their duty should be to lead others to God and not to themselves. His disciples and followers in general are to act like servants, giving themselves to others freely and lovingly. Humility alone and not self-exaltation can lead others to God and to life with God in Christ, now and for eternity.