Listen to the
TEACHER of TRUTH!
(31st Ordinary
Sunday — Year A)

Martinô Nguyễn

Today’s Gospel presents us with a bit of a dilemma since
Christ forbids disciples from using the title father or teacher and yet we find
ourselves using these titles all the time. If we took this instruction of Jesus
literally not only would we be forbidden to call priests by the title father,
but also we would be forbidden from using the word teacher to describe those who
guide us at school. I am not here today to give a discussion on this issue, but
I would like to present the idea of Jesus delivering a stinging rebuke to the
Scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus indicates the Jewish people should listen to
the teachings of these men but should not follow their example. Gospels like
today’s are difficult for us to understand because we are not familiar with the
Jewish life style in the 1st century. The reference to phylacteries and tassels
mean nothing to us.

So, how do Jesus’ words apply here in the 21st century? He
is telling us, “Be aware who we listen to and who we imitate. “These men preach
but they do not practice.” Yes, if Jesus were here today would he be saying,
“Don’t pay attention to some of the things you see at the movies or on
television, don’t listen to some of the rap songs on the radio, don’t admire the
rich people who have gained their wealth by dishonestly inflating the earnings
of their companies only to have the company go bankrupt and their employees lose
their pensions?” In other words, if you don’t think I live a good life as a
priest, but my words bring you closer to God, please listen to me. And if my
words take you away from God and you don’t like to listen to me, you can take
out your I-Pod and listen to some words that bring the Truth to you!

Jesus tells us, “You have but one Teacher, you have one
Master and the greatest among you must be a servant to others.” And that’s true.
We think of some of the powerful and famous people in our country who are not
the true teachers! They support abortion, same sex relations, produce filthy
movies and try to pass laws that mock God.

Yes, we live in a society that is much like the society
Jesus spoke about. Some of the young people here get excited by the lyrics of
modern “rap” music. When you really listen to the message it is anything but
“exciting”. We listen to some politicians, some film and television stars whose
lives are not what we would like to copy. Their lives seem to be dedicated to
their own pleasure and to their power.

The words Jesus spoke 2000 years ago are just as true
today as they were then. The real heroes seem to be people like Mother Teresa
who had no wealth, who spent her time helping the poor and disabled, spent hours
each day in prayer and was admired world wide as one of the guiding lights of
our century. Pope John Paul also commanded world wide respect and affection.
Why? Because the world recognized his holiness.

And so, I believe that all of us have to look beyond those
who are rich, famous and powerful and listen and emulate those who we really
should admire.

Young people, really consider your parents. Now you might
say, “Well my parents aren’t pop stars or movie stars or famous people!” No,
that may be true but your parents love you more than any of the famous people
you read about or listen to. Your parents have given you a home, probably a
wonderful education, have been there to love you at times when you’ve gotten
into trouble and, most of all, have loved you, even when things weren’t going
too well. They are the true teachers. Sometimes it may not seem that way but if
you step back and analyze what they are doing for you, you quickly realize they
are trying to keep you from heartbreak, from choices that can ruin your life and
bring misery into your life. It’s simple…. they really do love you.

Consider the life of Jesus. He wasn’t rich, He wasn’t
politically powerful, He didn’t have a lot of wealthy and influential friends
but in just the 3 years of His public life, He changed the world.

So let us consider what is really important to us and to
our families. Jesus tells us there are those who would seem to be important or
popular but they are living lives that lead to moral bankruptcy. They may have
wealth, they may be popular and they may seem to have everything one would want
out of life……except happiness, which comes from God.

Think of all those rich and famous people and then
consider His words: “Whoever exalts himself or herself will be humbled; and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted!”

WE MUST MAKE OUR CHOICE!

Martinô Nguyễn