[stephenkhoo]

Scripture Reflections
Sunday, 30 October, 2011, 31st Ordinary Week, Year A
AN AUTHENTIC TEACHER IS GROUNDED IN CHRIST THE TEACHER

SCRIPTURE READINGS: MAL 1:14 – 2:2.8-10; 1 THESS 2:7-9.13; MT 23:1-12

The lesson of today’s liturgy is obvious. It is the theme of being an authentic teacher. All of us are teachers in some ways and at different levels. Teachers are not confined to mere teaching but the whole process of imparting knowledge, values and convictions. Hence, we have much to learn from today’s liturgy for we are warned not to make the same mistakes as the leaders of Israel.

In the first reading from prophet Malachi, the priests were leading astray the people of God by their false teaching. The prophet denounced the priests for not leading the people to God. Why were they leading them away from God? This was because they themselves have strayed from their responsibility. Indeed, Malachi prophesied, “You have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching. You have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.” When we leaders are not observing the commandments of the Lord, we can never be able to lead others to Him since we ourselves are in darkness and are lost. As a result, not only were they not teaching the Law but they were cheating on the people when they offered sacrifices at the temple. Instead of offering the unblemished animals to the Lord, they were taking blind, blemished and lame animals for sacrifice at the altar of the Lord. Above all, they showed partiality in administration. By misusing the responsibility and gift of the priesthood, they destroyed both the people of God and themselves.

In the gospel, the scribes and Pharisees who were the teachers of the Law were also reprimanded by Jesus. They occupied the chair of Moses and although they might have taught the right things, they were not practising what they preached. Instead, they were seeking for their self glory. They used religion to glorify themselves instead of leading people to glorify God. They wanted to be noticed and honoured. Works were performed to seek attention. Indeed, they were not exemplary teachers. Furthermore, they were out of touch with the people. Instead of liberating them from slavery for life, they were laying burdens on the people that they themselves could not observe. The multiplication of the numerous laws made it impossible for anyone to fulfill them. Of course, they themselves were also unable to obey them as well.

We too can fall into the same situation. We too can impose on others what we ourselves will never do. We do not walk the talk. Indeed, we must ask ourselves, how are we as teachers at home, in Church and society at large? As parents we teach our children to do the right thing and speak the truth, yet we do not. Who then is a true teacher?

A teacher is one who leads people to God and to glorify Him. Teachers must not lead others to themselves. That is why, Jesus said, ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.” We must never think that we are the teacher. We must always refer to Christ in whatever we teach so that we will teach only the truth about God and about life.

Secondly, a teacher is one who serves the Teacher. A teacher is a servant to the people of God. Once again, Jesus tells us, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Holy Father calls himself the servant of servants. Malachi reminds us, “Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us?” That being the case, we are all equal and even as teachers we are simply acting on behalf of the Father. So as teachers, we are teachers on behalf of God. We are to carry out our responsibility faithfully and in all that we do, reflect the face of the Father.

Thirdly, a teacher is one who teaches. He has the courage to teach the truth, regardless of consequences. Indeed, we must ask ourselves whether we are imparting the right teachings to our children. Are we educating and conscientising society on the right values of life? Are we courageous enough to speak the truth for those under our charge to hear? The truth is that when we no longer have the courage to speak the truth and be a prophet in our days, it is because we have lost that credibility by our failure to be true to what we teach. Our sins often silence our lips from proclaiming the truth as what we say is but a reprimand to us. We feel so hypocritical if we say one thing and do another thing. The moment we live a double life, the devil has won victory over us by sealing our lips from the proclamation of the truth. And if we try, he will accuse our conscience and make us feel unworthy.

Fourthly, a teacher is one who reveals God to others. By his simplicity, love and compassion, he shows others the face of God. So he is not simply a teacher in words but also in deeds. Indeed, we must not allow the words of Jesus to apply to us when he told the people, “You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach.”

Fifthly, a teacher is one who makes other teachers. A teacher does not draw people to himself. The greatest joy of a teacher is to make his students supersede him. As St John the Baptist says, “He must increase and I must decrease.” So too for parents, their greatest joy is to help their children become better than they. When their children grow up to be even more capable than them, it would be testimony to their having done a great job. What kind of parents fears that their children would become better than them? On the contrary, we want our children to do better than us.

For our inspiration we have Jesus Himself who is the Christ, the true Teacher. He taught with authority because of His personal intimacy with the Father. But also because He lived out what He preached. As the gospel tells us, Jesus made Himself our servant. The Letter to Philippians tells us that He lowered Himself as a servant for our sake and humbled Himself even unto death on a cross. In St John’s gospel Jesus demonstrated leadership by washing the feet of His disciples. He has come to serve and not be served and this service is done in selflessness and humility.

St Paul in the second reading shows us what it means to a real teacher. He describes the role of a teacher as a “mother feeding and looking after her own children.” Yes, a teacher is one who teaches with love and devotion. It is not so much a position of authority or power but the authority for service and love. Indeed, he said, “we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well. Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you.” Only when we love without regard for self-interest, can we give our whole lives to others.

How then can we become the true teacher? As Jesus made it clear we must come to God the True Teacher. When He instructed us never to allow ourselves to be called teacher, master or father, it is not to be understood in a literal manner. Rather, what He meant was that our source of authority must be founded on God alone who is the Source of Life and Truth. All authority, all wisdom, all truth and all perfection exist in God alone. Hence, we must come to Jesus our only teacher. He is the true teacher because He is the definitive revelation of God in person. He teaches in the name of God. Jesus did not only reveal to us the will of God but His very being as well.

The danger is that today many people think that they are the source of truth. They do not believe that absolute Truth is found in God alone. The modern generation makes themselves the norm of truth. As a result, relativism prevails today because there is no norm since every norm is subjective and consequently truth is denied. They have no respect for God.

This is not to deny that truth is not imprinted on the conscience. But today, the conscience is blurred by sin and the selfish values of society. The Church as the spokesman of Christ continues to expound the truth in the changing situations of life. So if we want to be teachers today, we must be united with Christ by being united with the Church’s magisterium, the custodian of truths.

If not, there is a warning as well. The priests of the Old Testament were warned by the Lord that “I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.” We will suffer the consequences of sin.