31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

11-05-2023Gospel ReflectionFr. John Muir

Last Easter season a new convert to Catholicism at my parish asked me with a grave tone in her voice: “Why do we call priests ‘father’ if Jesus says, ‘Call no man on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven’?” Thinking myself clever, I asked, “Do you think it’s okay to call someone your ‘teacher’ or ‘mister’ or ‘dad’?” She said, “Yes, I do.” I responded, “Well, Jesus seems to forbid that, too. So, it’s obviously hyperbole that he’s using.” She thought for a moment and declared, “Then I will stop using those words, too!” And she walked away. Not the outcome I was seeking.

We shouldn’t be too hasty in dismissing this complaint voiced by many non-Catholics. The expression “father” for ordained priests is not honorary for the individual man. The priest’s fatherhood doesn’t begin or end in him at all. Rather, the title “father” indicates that he is a sacramental sign of God’s Fatherhood revealed in Jesus. I can tell you, as a very unworthy bearer of that title, we should give and receive that title with some trepidation (because of God’s awesomeness) and with a little sense of humor (because of the lowliness of the men with the title).

The longer I’m a priest, the more I’m comfortable with people not using the title “father” and just calling me “John.” After all, only God is Father in the truest sense. At the same time, Jesus has brought the Father close to us, very close. We honor this closeness in some men with the title “father.” Who are the priests in your life whom Christ has sent to you? How wonderful that Christ has surrounded us with humble signs of his Father’s love. It’s good to celebrate that love with gratitude for the priests in our lives.

— Father John Muir

31er Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

“El que se enaltece será humillado, y el que se humilla será enaltecido” (Mateo 23,12). De ahí viene el consejo de Jesús de no imitar a los maestros de la ley, quienes solían poner cargas muy pesadas a la gente y ellos no hacían nada por llevarlas a cabo. Cuando se emprende algún proyecto, ya sea en familia o comunidad, se supone que el líder debe de poner el ejemplo al realizar las tareas, sean grandes o pequeñas. Se trata de servir siempre con alegría y buen ejemplo: “El más grande entre ustedes se hará el servidor de todos” (Mateo 23,11). Sin buscar honores ni complacencias con nosotros mismos. ¿Qué te parece? Serás capaz de ser humilde y servir a los que te rodean con ese amor que Jesús nos muestra en el Evangelio de hoy.

“Nosotros, discípulos de Jesús, no debemos busca títulos de honor, de autoridad o de supremacía. Yo les digo que a mí personalmente me duele ver a personas que psicológicamente viven corriendo detrás de la vanidad y condecoraciones. Nosotros, discípulos de Jesús, no debemos hace esto, ya que entre nosotros debe haber una actitud sencilla y fraterna” (Papa Francisco 11-05- 2017). Gracias, Papa Francisco, por ubicarnos en lo que es verdaderamente importante. Gracias, por prevenirnos ante la tentación de la vanagloria y de los primeros lugares. Aunque no es malo que nos den las gracias por lo que hacemos, el sentido es que seamos humildes y agradecidos.