Weekly Mass Discussion Thread #10

!catholics !christians sorry about the ping from last one, I accidentally hit control+enter before I was done.

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First Reading

A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts,

and my name will be feared among the nations.

And now, O priests, this commandment is for you:

If you do not listen,

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.

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.

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.

Have we not all the one father?

Has not the one God created us?

Why then do we break faith with one another,

violating the covenant of our fathers?

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

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Responsorial Psalm

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

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.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

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.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,

both now and forever.

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

-Psalm 131:1, 2, 3

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Second Reading

Brothers and sisters:

We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.

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.

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.

Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,

we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

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.

-1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13

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Gospel

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

"The scribes and the Pharisees

have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

but do not follow their example.

For they preach but they do not practice.

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.

All their works are performed to be seen.

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'

As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Call no one on earth your father;

you have but one Father in heaven.

Do not be called 'Master';

you have but one master, the Christ.

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

-Matthew 23:1-12

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Today's readings cover hypocrisy and humility. In the Old Testament, God establishes that the priests who violate the covenant will be terribly cursed. Jesus backs this up, criticizing Jewish leadership for their impiety. What sticks out is that he commands his disciples not to call anyone "father," "master," or "Rabbi." Saint Paul illuminates the point of this passage: "you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God." Whatever holiness is found on Earth is there because God placed it. No human is truly worthy of being seen as a teacher, for everything holy one knows was taught first by God. And thus, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled." To view your holiness as a result of yourself, rather than God's grace, is to indulge in pride. To stay humble is to remember the good God has done for you.