Corruptibility
Gospel: Mt 23:1-12
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022724.cfm
We humans struggle with and fight for power. Power itself can be very corruptible. Even with the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s time, those who were given the authority to lead the people religiously, were easily corrupted. Jesus says that we shouldn’t dismiss the insights of their message and that we shouldn’t follow their example. Not all of their message was divine, but the parts that they spoke that were, should not be dismissed because of their hypocrisy. We see this a lot today in our culture and our society as well. A person is not entirely a reflection of who they are on their best and worst days.
This gospel is a cautionary tale of how easily we are corrupted by the power dynamics within our society. Religious institutions do not escape this tendency for corruption. Power leads to hypocrisy, subordination, vanity, and entitlement. It seeks social privilege over others and fights for a sense of being better than other people. It’s as if life itself is a competition. In merit-based cultures, we have a sense that we are entitled to more because we sacrifice more or because we are more strategic, more creative, more athletic, better looking, smarter, more holy, more generous, put forth more effort, etc. Every time we use the word “more” we are comparing. We are putting together a hierarchy. Yes, we may have comparable differences, but those differences do not make one of us more deserving than another. We are all created in the image and likeness of God and are therefore equally entitled.
We created the inequalities we see in the world through these stories we tell ourselves. We need these comparisons to justify our reality and make ourselves feel better about ourselves. How much better off would we be, if we could see the equality between us? Jesus gives us a means to this at the end of today’s gospel, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." We must approach each other with a servant attitude. We must approach each other as if they are just as deserving as we are because they are.
Let us pray. God help us to see that we are all equal and deserving of your love and grace. Help us see your divine image in ourselves and others. Free us from the corruption of ourselves and others. Help us discern your message in the world beyond our limited perspective and desires. Lead us to see the world through your universal lens. Amen.
