"Obedience is always difficult, but particularly when those in authority do not practise what they preach," writes Father Vincent Hawkswell. "We are surprised and shocked to discover they do not." (Via Pixabay)
31st
Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
First
Reading: Mal
1:14-2.2, 8-10
Second
Reading: 1 Thes
2:7-9, 13
Gospel
Reading: Mt
23:1-12
Jesus says, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ chair; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach.”
Obedience is always difficult, but particularly when those in authority do not practise what they preach.
We are surprised and shocked to discover they do not. That is why the press pounces on bishops, priests, and sisters who are even suspected of abusing people in their care.
You probably recognize many faults in many priests. One makes excuses for not keeping appointments, another is always late for Mass, a third drinks too much. We priests are poor weak creatures, subject to the same temptations as everyone else.
In light of this Sunday’s liturgy, how should we react?
Some people bury their heads in the sand. “A holy man of God would not do such a thing,” they insist. Others presume all priests to be hypocrites, living sinful lives, but continuing to preach the opposite to the people just because that is their job.
If even priests do not keep the commandments, some argue, the commandments should be changed. For example, they want the Church to stop requiring priests to be celibate because a small percentage of them (and it is a very small percentage) do not live that way.
It is easy for priests to scandalize people. It is difficult for people to separate the message from the messenger. I once heard of an English man who had left the Church because his parish priest had lied to him. “’Ow can I receive ’Oly Communion from the ’ands what’s told me lies?” he asked.
On the other hand, there is no logical connection between the way a priest behaves and the way he preaches. If he commits adultery, does that make adultery right? If he never steals, is that what makes stealing wrong?
Priests and bishops are Christ’s representatives, so they have a duty to preach his message, even if they fail to follow it themselves. We should be like the Thessalonians, whom St. Paul praised because they “received the word of God” from the Apostles “not as a human word, but as what it really is, God’s word.”
Of course, priests are not free to commit sin provided they continue preaching the truth. If they do, they will hear God’s frightening words: “You have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction.”
This applies not just to priests, but to all of us. It may be illogical for people to stop believing what we say because we do not practise what we preach, but, in fact, they do. We all have a grave responsibility, therefore, to keep God’s laws.
People expect Catholics to be charitable, truthful, and chaste, according to the commandments. Accordingly, one unkind word, one lie, or one impure act can be enough to drive them away from the Church. If that parish priest had not lied to that man, he might still be practising his faith.
Of course, the converse is true, too. One kind word from us, one brave upholding of the truth, or one refusal to look at a dirty picture can be enough to attract people to the Church.
In fact, most people come to the Church not because of doctrinal reasoning, but because of the kindness of some Catholic. We pass on Christ’s message not primarily by preaching, but rather by demonstrating the changes it makes in our own lives.
May God forgive any priest who has not let the word of God change his life. And he whom God can forgive, we must forgive too.