Thirty-first Sunday of the Year: November 5, 2023

              THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY

First Reading: Malachi 1: 14 to 2: 2 and 8-10

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2: 7-9 and 13

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23: 1-12

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Malachi. Malachi severely warns the priests of the land of Israel. He says that the Lord God intends to humble and punish the proud priests for their empty piety, for straying from the true path and for spreading false doctrines. They have turned away from the Lord God and made void the covenant of the Lord God. They stand condemned for their favouritism and for causing divisions and distinctions among the people. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Thessalonica of his great love and care for them. He tells them how hard he worked to bring good news to them. He thanks God for their openness to his preaching and instructions. 

Whoever humbles himself will be exalted                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus criticizes the religious leaders: The Pharisees and the Scribes. He accuses them of double standards in their lives. They are pretending to be good but in reality they are far from it. They parade themselves in public; dressed in fancy robes to get the attention of the gullible people. They say long prayers and keep many man-made rules and precepts but fail in love and justice. They are hollow and empty inside. They take every effort to show off their importance and false piety. Jesus sees beneath the appearances and sees the real person as he/she is. A genuine person like Nathaniel is praised by Jesus. But he expresses his dislike for all falsehood and pretensions in people. The words Jesus speaks against the Scribes and the Pharisees are  a warning to us too. The moment we try to be what we are not, we become unreal persons and pretenders. A humble person never tries to be a pretender. That is why Jesus says, "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted".

"Humility is the beginning of wisdom" -Proverb

"If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise or disgrace, because you know what you are." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility." - M. K. Gandhi

"The Lord called me by the way of simplicity and humility." - St. Francis of Assisi