Wednesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus is very critical of the Pharisees because they take the seats of honour in the synagogues. Looking for honours was very deeply rooted in the culture to which Jesus belonged. Most of the generous giving that went on was with a view to getting honour. If someone built a public baths, for example, their name was clearly inscribed on it for all to see. Perhaps things haven’t changed all that much in that regard. Jesus had a very different attitude to honour. He certainly did not seek it for himself and he did not encourage his disciples to seek honour for themselves, even though they were prone to doing so. On one occasion they argued among themselves as to which of them was the greatest, and James and John asked Jesus for seats on his left and right in his kingdom. Rather than getting honour from others, Jesus put the emphasis on giving honour or showing honour to others. The primary one to whom honour was to be shown was God. We are to live in such a way that we bring honour to God and not to ourselves. Even our good works for others are to bring honour to God and not to ourselves. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples, ‘let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’. Jesus assures us that in living in a way that brings honour and glory to God, we will receive honour from God, which is the only honour worth having.

Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland

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