Thirty First Sunday Homily in Ordinary Time Year A

1st Reading – Malachi 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10

^14B I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the Gentiles.

¹ And now, O priests, this command is to you.

^2AB If you will refuse to listen, and if you will refuse to take it to heart, so as to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send destitution upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I will curse them.

⁸ But you have withdrawn from the way, and you have scandalized very many in the law. You have nullified the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

⁹ Because of this, I also have made you contemptible and debased to all the people, just as you have not served my ways, and you have accepted a face in the law.

¹⁰ Is there not one Father of us all? Did not one God create us? Why, then, does each one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our fathers?

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 131:1, 2, 3

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

¹ O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

² Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

³ O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

2nd Reading – 1 Thessalonians 2:7B-9, 13

Brothers and sisters:
^7B We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.

⁸ With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

⁹ You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

¹³ And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

Alleluia – Matthew 23:9B, 10B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
^9B You have but one Father in heaven
^10B and one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel – Matthew 23:1-12

¹ Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

² saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

³ Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.

⁴ They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.

⁵ All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

⁶ They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

⁷ greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’

⁸ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

⁹ Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.

¹⁰ Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ.

¹¹ The greatest among you must be your servant.

¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”