The Mature Christian-HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 26th August 2023

The Mature Christian-HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 26th August 2023

Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17; Ps.128; Matthew 23:1-12

The Mature Christian

Often times, the mistakes or misdeeds of some religious leaders or those who are looked up to as role models, constitutes a reason for some others to give up making effort to live a upright live. They will usually say: “if ……could do such a thing, then who am I?” Today, Jesus says to us that we should obey the teachings of those who teach since what they are teaching is from God. However, the fact that one occupies an exalted or religious position does not immune the person from falling or making mistakes. Ordination does not remove the humanness of a Priest.

Therefore, in listening to what he preaches, we should not presume that all that he does is right. An action is not right because it was carried out by a man of God. An action is right because it is in consonance with the commandment of God. Therefore, when it is heard that a man of God has done something wrong, that should not give us the license to indulge in such wrong acts ourselves especially if it’s something we have been struggling to overcome in our personal lives.

While it is of utmost importance that those who lead us should live by example, it is also important that we guide against being led astray by bad example. This is because, on the last day, the misdeed of our Priest/Pastor will not be a justification for indulging in those misdeeds ourselves.  We should be mature enough to know the difference between good and bad.

It is for this reason that Jesus asked that we call no one rabbi, teacher or father. By this, Jesus was not abrogating the use of these nomenclatures but that we do not give to man the reverence due to God alone. We should bear in mind that in as much as those in authority have a Divine ordinance, they are not the Divine Himself. On the last day, both the leaders and the led will be subject to the judgment of the One who is truly the Rabbi, the Teacher and the Father.