Today’s (Mt 23:1-12) and tomorrow’s (Mt 20:17-28) gospels speak about leadership or authority among the People of God.The gospel for today speaks, specifically, of the leadership of the scribes and Pharisees among the Jewish people.
Clearly, the People of God, under the old covenant, had positions of authority. Equally, the New Testament testifies to positions of authority in the structures of the New Testament community.
Today’s gospel makes clear at least one criteria Jesus places on those possessing authority in his community; that is, integrity.
Now this is important, the lack of integrity in the life of one possessing authority does not void that one’s authority.“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you” (vs. 2-3).There is, in other words, an objective aspect to authority.There is, because, God desires his people to live in the security of knowing they have access to his truth.God will, through those he has established, maintain his people in the truth, despite the possible ‘untruthfulness’ of the lives of those entrusted with this responsibility.
Nonetheless, there is what might be called a subjective aspect to authority, and it is to this that Jesus seems to address himself most intentionally.Yes, Jesus said, follow the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees, “but do not follow their example.For they preach but they do not practice” (v. 3).The problem that Jesus has is that the truth proclaimed is not the truth lived!There is, in other words, a lack of integrity.For this lack of integrity, just go on to read the rest of this chapter in Matthew to see it, Jesus rain downs intense condemnation.Make no mistake about it, to hold authority within the People of God demands, absolutely demands, from the one holding it a life that corresponds to the truth of God.It demands integrity!
Where is this lack of integrity focused?“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” (v. 4).Rather—“as for you” (v. 8)—“The greatest among you must be your servant.Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (vs. 11-12).The lack of integrity, somehow, centers on the making of God’s truth a burden.It does because to do so is to contradict the very nature of that truth.The revelation contained in the life of Jesus is a truth that sets free, that liberates.To turn it into a burden is to turn it on its head, to make the word preached and the word experienced stand in contradiction.
You see, those with authority in Jesus’ band of disciples, must themselves first of all be converted to the truth of the gospel.That gospel is none other then finding life by the giving of life.Those who use their authority to grasp at life for themselves, will in the end loss their very lives!
Again, I am struck, this is pretty demanding stuff.Over the last two years we have witnessed how far our leaders can miss the mark.
Still, to be faithful to the way of Jesus demands not that I point to those ‘others’ who have failed, but that I first get the message straight myself!Is my life a life of integrity?Does my life, in its most personal dimensions, correspond to my words about God and my religious practices?How do I use whatever positions of authority I might hold to stuff my ego rather then to open the way for Jesus to lift up and free others from their burdens?
How appropriate the opening prayer for today’s Liturgy:
Lord,
watch over your Church,
and guide it with your unfailing love.
Protect us from what could harm us
and lead us to what will save us.
Help us always,
for without you we are bound to fail.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.