Welcome to our Bible Study

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time A

October 30, 2011 In preparation for this Sundays Liturgy

In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing

First Reading: Malachi 1,14b-2:2b,8-10

14b A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. 2b And if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. Yes, I have already cursed it, because you do not lay it to heart. 8 But you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; You have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. 9 I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, Since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions. 10 Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?
The focus is on keeping Gods commandments.

A simple outline!

First Reading: Malachi 1,14b-2:2b,8-10

Nature of God 14b A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. Commandment and punishment 2b And if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. Yes, I have already cursed it, Violations because you do not lay it to heart. 8 But you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; You have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. 9 I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, Since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions.

Nature of God (personal voice of the prophet)

10 Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?

First Reading: Malachi 1,14b-2:2b,8-10

Nature of God 14b A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. Commandment and punishment 2b And if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. Yes, I have already cursed it, Violations because you do not lay it to heart. 8 But you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; You have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. 9 I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, Since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions. Nature of God (personal voice of the prophet) 10 Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?

Commentary It is addressed to the priests of the Temple. (Malachi 2:1 And now, O priests, this
commandment is for you: If you do not listen)

In v.2b, God requires them to give glory to him, otherwise, he will curse them, and even his blessing will turn into a curse to them. In v.2b, in fact, God has turned his blessing into a curse because:
They lacked sincerity. They veered away from the righteous paths. V.8 They misled people by their false teachings. V.8 They voided the covenant. V.8

Not only are they cursed, but made contemptible and low because
They did not walk in Gods ways. They are partial / biased in their decisions.

In v.10, the prophet reminds that we all have one God. There is no reason for us to divide and to break the covenant.

Reflections on the first reading

Priests are expected to be mindful of the liturgical laws, of the covenant on Mt. Sinai, of the traditions laid out by the prophets. Priests are not spared of Gods wrath, if they are not performing their duties and if they violate Gods laws. God does not like lazy ministers. We, Christians, are priests. We are a priestly people. Some are ministerial; others are simply priests, sharing in the priestly ministry of Jesus.

Resp. Ps 131:1, 2, 3
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace. 1 O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. 2 Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever.

Resp. Ps 131:1, 2, 3
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

1 O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me.
2 Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever.

Commentary In v.1 the psalmist presents himself before God as not proud and haughty. He is not ambitious. In v.2, the psalmist presents himself as relaxed, using a simile (weaned child). In v.3, the psalmist exhorts all Israel to always put their hope in the Lord.

Reflections on the Psalm

In approaching God, we should be humble. In life, we should not be too ambitious or pretentious, trying to do what is beyond our ability. We should know ourselves and act accordingly.

Second Reading: 1 Thess 2,7b-9.13

7b Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. 9 You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

Second Reading: 1 Thess 2,7b-9.13

7b Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. 9 You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. Commentary In v.7b, Paul reminds the Thessalonians how he and the other missionaries tenderly dealt with them (like a nursing mother). In v.8, Paul tells them how they, the missionaries, were determined to share not only the gospel but their very selves. Because of this, they have established a good relationship with them. In v.9, Paul again reminds them how they, the missionaries, did not burden them, because they also earned their living as they evangelized. In v.13, Paul give thanks to God because the Thessalonians believed in their preaching as coming from God, not from humans.

Reflections on the second reading

Like Paul, we, missionaries at the present time, must be affectionate to those whom we are evangelizing.
Like Paul, we should not burden those who are evangelized.

Our relationship with them must be human.

The missionary operates using both his feminine and masculine qualities. (a sexually integrated person)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23,1-12

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' 8 As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23,1-12

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. (Jesus tries to salvage their teachings). For they preach but they do not practice. (inconsistent) 4 They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. (unfair) 5 All their works are performed to be seen. (hypocrisy) They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. (vanity)

 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' (love of peripherals)
8 As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. (be fraternal) 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. (trust in God) 10 Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. (be a good disciple)

11 The greatest among you must be your servant. (serve everyone) 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled (be humble); but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Reflections on the gospel reading

Religious leaders should give good examples to the community. To be effective ministers, they must be consistent and sincere. They must avoid hypocrisy, must not be showy, not concerned with externals. Christians should recognize just one leader (master, teacher): Jesus Christ. Christians should be humble, not seeking honor and glory and praise.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

First reading: Religious leaders must diligently observe the laws and the covenant. They must do their work conscientiously. Psalm: We should not pretend we can do what we cant. Second reading: Paul and companions are good examples of conscientious missionary workers of the Lord. Gospel reading: Religious leadership is service to the brothers, not self-serving.

We focus on the need for a good leadership.

How to develop your homily / sharing

Share your concrete experience as a leader / a chairman / one in charge. You may share the characteristic traits of a person, who has a great impact on you. Connect to the readings your experience on leadership and your admiration to the person whom you consider a true leader.

 According to the 1st reading, leaders are not lawbreakers and violators of covenants and pacts. When serving the community, they are impartial. They have no favoritism. They embrace all who need their help. They do not mislead the people. They dont sow confusions and intrigues.

 The second reading teaches the leaders (missionaries, church people) that they must not be a burden to the community. They must be affectionate to their constituents. They must bring the good news to the people, (not their personal worldly values). They should work with their hands for their sustenance.

 The gospel reading teaches leaders to be consistent with their teachings. They should be fair and just to others. They should not use their positions to solicit recognitions. They should not act like the hypocrites, who do things for a show. They must be humble.

 Contrast the kind of leaders we have in the church and in the government to the readings. Give your impression of the kind of leadership also practiced in your homes. Pa forma lang? Kulang din sa gawa? No vision? Walang batas na sinusunod? Tamad? Challenge the listeners (they, too, are leaders) to exercise their duties and responsibilities with diligence, with intelligence, taking into account the laws and traditions of the community.

 Christian leadership is a selfless and humble service to God and community, couched by the one Master, Jesus Christ. The one true and sincere leader and model is Jesus Christ. He gives himself totally to us, without hypocrisy and pretension.

 The eucharist strengthens good leadership. The eucharist is only for those who humbly exercise their leadership in loving service to the community. The eucharist makes us united with the true and faithful leader, Jesus Christ.

Our Context of Sin and Grace

Irresponsible leaders Self-serving leaders Abusive leaders Too conscious of their authority Absentee Pretentious False Teachers Hypocrites Hungry for power Humble Ability to listen to Christ (good disciple) Service oriented leadership Servant-leader Nurturing leader Has ability to motivate