Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 15th March
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 15th March 2022
Whereas Sunday was a miserable, wet day in Herefordshire, yesterday the sun shone almost all day. I wish we had gone out on our country walk yesterday rather than Sunday, but there was no choice! It’s good to go out with Toby in the first light of dawn. How quickly the early mornings are changing and how much more light we have at both ends of the day now and it’s still over three months to the Summer solstice. One of the great attractions of Spring are the wild and garden flowers and blossom. No matter how sad or bleak the day, the presence of flowers always uplifts our hearts and minds and bring a prayer of thanksgiving to our lips.
---
Our Gospel passage today comes from Matthew, (Mt 23: 1-12), in which Jesus addresses both his disciples and the people. To begin with he talks about the scribes and Pharisees. “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.” It is their task in society to interpret the Law for the people to follow. The people must listen to their teaching and follow their indications, but by no means follow their example, for they don’t practise what they preach. In other words, he criticises their hypocrisy and double standards. All they are really interested in is their position in society and the honour that is given them by the use of the title Rabbi or Teacher. They love tying people up in knots of legalism, but will do nothing to help them solve their problems. This is quite a caricature that Jesus paints of these men and a powerful criticism. In the Church, we must beware of such behaviour.
---
Jesus then moves on from talking about such people and speaks of life among his followers, which should be one of humility and respect. He says, “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.” Jesus expects his disciples to behave in quite the opposite way. To begin with, no hierarchy and no titles, for theirs is to be a life of humble service. Among them, even if there are people who function as fathers and teachers in the community, they must not forget that all are brothers and sisters. There is an intrinsic equality among the brethren, as we are brothers and sisters of Jesus and God is our common Father. Now it is true that among the clergy, for example, titles are used, but this is out of respect and to maintain a professional distance between the clergy and the faithful and as an aid to safeguarding. They are not an excuse for priests to laud it over their people. In the Church there can be no us and them, simply we. Think of the extraordinary humility of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, good examples for us all to follow.
