By F. Luis Casasus, General Superior of idente missionaries
Commentary on the Sunday Gospel of 5-11-2017, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Book of Malachi 1:14b.2:1-2b.8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9.13; Saint Matthew 23:1-12)
At the end of our spiritual lessons (Claustros) we recite the Martyrial Sacra, a prayer inherited from our Father Founder: I promise You, Lord, to live and transmit the Gospel with the sacrifice of my life and my reputation…
This last phrase should lead us think that there is some difference between offering my life and offering my reputation. In fact, the priests in today’s first reading (and perhaps you and I) dedicated their lives to spiritual issues, to take care of the problems of the people and to teach them. But, what are the motives behind my decisions? There have been many times that I have done good things, not for the sake of doing what was right, but because I wanted to be noticed by someone. I have a deep desire to be respected and admired, and sometimes I let that desire infect the motives of my heart. When we live our lives “dedicated to Jesus” with the idea that we will receive recognition or a pat on the back for what we are doing, we are a stumbling block to the Gospel. This is why I have to offer my reputation to God every day.
There is a difference between living a good life in order to be respected and living a good life worthy of providing a leading example for others. Paul referred several times in his letters to the churches of the example that he had given them through his life, because we all need a visual demonstration of faith in order to understand it. As missionaries, it is our responsibility to be that demonstration for the people we spiritually lead. We can be conscious about how our lives are affecting others, but the question we should always ask ourselves is: Who am I really serving? When we serve others, our actions should be driven by the overflow of God’s love in our lives, not by the emptiness of our self-esteem tank.
So long as we are concerned about our own interests, our public image, our status and prestige, we remain slaves of the world. Jesus warns us: Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
In the book of Hanfei Zi there is a story of a man called Bian He who tried to present a precious piece of jade matrix to the King of his state. The king sent a jeweler to examine it and, when the jeweler falsely judged the jade to be a mere stone, the King, acting on the suspicion that Brian He was trying to deceive him, ordered his left leg to be cut off as punishment. Years later, Brian He tried again with the next King and the same process was repeated with his right leg amputated. Brian He wept so hard that his tears turned into blood, but he claimed he was not crying for the loss of his feet, but only because a precious treasure had been falsely called a stone and his genuine heart had gone unrecognized. When the last incident finally caught the attention of the King, he sent an order to cut and polish the matrix, whereupon the precious jade was revealed.
This story tells us how the lack of recognition of something which we consider to be very precious can cause a pain more severe than physical torture. And this is the importance of reputation, and from whose slavery only the grace can liberate us.
When you are willing to be mocked, persecuted, slandered by your neighbors, jailed and even killed; that is when you are ready to tell people the truth that will save them. When you are ready to lose your reputation, your loved ones and your life, you are then ready to be a good and useful Servant of God. Do I love Jesus enough that the opinions and approval of others are not determining factors in my decisions? Is the smile of God worth the sacrifice of my reputation, even with other Christians?
Yes, the offering of my life and my reputation is a powerful condensed picture of holiness, because it represents true abnegation, true separation of my ego, allowing the Holy Spirit to purify me. As we red in the Book of Revelation on the occasion of All Saint’s Feast day: These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what is it that makes a person holy? Is it some inner goodness or merit they achieved? Most godly people would be appalled by this suggestion; rather, they are unusually conscious of their own unworthiness. And this sense of unworthiness is often offset by an unusual consciousness of being a recipient of God’s mercy and grace. This is the attitude of Saint Paul in his sharing with the Thessalonians: In receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not as a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.
A story is told of a young girl, who when visiting a great cathedral, saw the figures depicted in the beautiful stained glass windows. It was explained to her that these were the “saints” of the Church. Later, when asked by someone, “What is a saint?” she answered: A saint is someone who lets the light shine through.
Is not that really what makes us holy, the extent to which we allow Jesus, the Light, to shine through us? We are set apart and made spiritually beautiful, or holy, not because we reflect our own merit but because we reflect his merit. Our mission is to allow people to see how God is working in our lives in spite of our human weaknesses. We must help people to focus on God, not on ourselves. Only when we lead people to God, can we free ourselves from pride.
And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, 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 (Book of Malachi). What is important, Pope Francis said (March 24, 2017), is understanding that we learn to do good with concrete acts, not with words. And in fact as we read today in the Gospel that Jesus scolds this ruling class of the people of Israel, for they preach but do not practice; they do not know concreteness. And if there is no concreteness, there can be no conversion, the Holy Father added. That sounds like our Father Founder when he says that in our confession we have to declare concrete faults, not “states”.
Like those rulers, consciously or unconsciously, we are not living examples of holiness. We might be doing “apostolic work”, but more as an activity or a duty, rather than consciously doing it for the love and glory of God. Quite often, instead of glorifying God together, we scandalize the world with our inner division and power play to control and dominate.
I always find it sad when I hear superiors telling their brothers that they must obey when they cannot obey their own superiors themselves; or parents telling their children not to quarrel when they are quarreling with their spouse; or someone telling others to forgive when they themselves are so unforgiving and vindictive.
Today, a leader is not expected to live a moral life and a life of integrity. Personal values are separated from professional work. A political leader is simply expected to ensure that the country is economically growing and that there is order and harmony. A teacher simply needs to be able to teach his subjects well. A businessman must bring more money and profits to the company. As regards their personal life, it is none of our business.
What we do is not only determined by the work alone, it has to do with our values system, our integrity and intention. It is not enough to be able to carry out our task or function well. We must ask ourselves what it is that motivates us and what objectives we want to achieve. My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work (Jn 4, 34)
The call to repentance and holiness would not be effective if this call does not begin with those in authority; missionaries, parents or teachers. Indeed, all leaders play a very critical role in shaping, molding and forming the values and minds of those under our charge.
When we live a life without integrity, the resultant feeling in our hearts is one of division and restlessness. As religious persons, we cannot transmit or teach the Gospel with conviction or faith to those under our charge if there is incompatibility between what we say and what we do. In truth, people can see that we do not walk the talk even though they do not tell us. We lack the moral authority to tell others what they must do when we ourselves are not even striving to put into practice what we teach. And so we know that what we say is a lie. There is a lack of peace and joy within ourselves. So, we lack the authority to mentor and inspire those under our charge. They distrust us and are suspicious of us, for they know that we care more for ourselves than for them.
We must begin by acknowledging the lack of inner peace and joy in our hearts. Then we must pray for the apostolic courage and humility to enter deeper into our motives for what we do. Jesus reminds us that if we want to grow in holiness, then we need to go beyond the virtues of the Scribes and Pharisees.
Confirmation is not only a Sacrament. It is also a permanent need that we have to serve. Yes, if we live authentic lives, then we will see the power of God at work in our lives, and when we live truly integrated lives, we will shine before men, because in us they see the joy, love and peace that radiates from within, reflecting our true identity as sons and daughters of God. Indeed, the words of Jesus to His disciples could well apply to us. Pope Paul VI reminds us that what the world needs is not teachers but witnesses. If our teaching has not changed lives, it is because we lack credibility.
Anyone who serves that way is always full of joy because like John the Baptist, he decreases so that the Lord increases. There is no greater joy in life than to make someone happy, and knowing that we have done our part, we can then depart and bring that joy in us to others. Indeed, we all know that we truly love and remember those who really care for us, especially when we are down and out.
