Serving others solves our judgement focus

By John Pearring

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082121.cfm
Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17
Matthew 23:1-12

Not too many folks use the term “exalted” anymore. Or, “lofty.” When was the last time you called someone “noble?” Such extolled status nomenclature has disappeared, along with the monocle, top hats, and fans. Heck, we haven’t said “extolled” since the 19th Century.

We’ve toned down highfalutin language because Jesus ruined self-aggrandizement for everyone. I’ve heard “honored” and “celebrated” in recent years, but that’s about as far as we go.

“All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’”

Jesus is picking on the aggrandizing scribes and Pharisees, of course. He finishes them off with one of his most classic quotes:

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

Exalted often refers to the character of holiness, which is surely how Jesus looked at it. An exalted one is a holy person. This may be why we don’t exalt folks anymore. Folks in charge tend to exalt themselves, and we're rightly skeptical. True exalted holiness is rare. Plus, the holy rightly object to being exalted. 

Our worthy Redeemer dismisses the peacock strutting of leaders, but he doesn’t dismiss their authority. Notice the beginning of today’s reading from Matthew 23. Jesus insists that the preaching from the scribes and Pharisees merits observation and follow-through. “Do and observe all the things whatsoever they tell you …”

Religious leaders sit upon the revered chair of Moses. They properly announce and deliver the law. They correctly teach and proclaim. We can consider all our leaders today in that same “seating” position. Observe and do whatever proper authorities tell us, Jesus said, even if we’re not happy with their political thinking or personal behavior.

Our minds, however, struggle with such thinking. We focus on judgment and consequences. We can’t help it. When our teachers, priests, bosses, and parents proclaim a teaching that they do not follow themselves, we often turn away. That’s not what Jesus says to do. 

It’s a rather disturbing expectation. We know hypocrites when we see them. The more blatant the celebrity nature of our leaders, the less we grant them the time of day, much less our ear.

“Do and observe all the things whatsoever they tell you …”

We skip that part and hear only, “All their works are performed to be seen.” Our go-to, our natural reaction, is to ignore pompous people. Are we really expected to hear and act on the preaching of a person we consider ridiculous or self-centered? 

The root teaching of Christianity, taken from the Jewish community, answers this question with a vehement, “Yes!” Those ordained in our Christian faith, seated in apostolic chairs, and selected or approved by a presbyterate are called by God to serve us. They wear a mantle consigned upon them by the Holy Spirit.

The analogy I like to use for myself is that of the father and mother roles. This authority comes without any vetting process—other than the woman picking the man and the man picking the woman. We married folks sit upon the seat of parenting. We are handed great authority without our children having any say in the matter.

I know a great many men who are better fathers than I. I am ashamed of some of the fathering errors I have made and still will make. Yet, my children have honored me as their father. They know the poop-head stuff I have done in raising them, but each has told me they have listened to me. They have tried hard to be the adults I hoped they would be.

In all efforts, Jesus tells us, we are brothers and sisters. We are no better than the least of us. Jesus’ Holy Spirit places his hands and subsequent authority upon our heads. That authority is really a call to serve, not to be bossy. Rather than bring judgment upon those who domineer and subsequently make fools of themselves, stick to our call to service. Service is the practical mission of all authority. We are servants to each other. This service shift will do more to attend to God’s power design than our judgment will accomplish.

We are fathers, brothers, and sons—mothers, sisters, and daughters. We are bosses, employees, and customers. We are priests, prophets, and royalty. In all these roles, the common denominator to proper relationships with each other isn’t our excellence or our ashamed failures. It is our service to each other.

“The greatest among you must be your servant.”

We like to assign that commission by Jesus to the leaders of our Churches. In truth, it’s the appointment for us all in everything we do. First, serve others. If we start there, then the proclamations from our leaders will map the paths of service that we make. We do not have to feign distrust while faking agreement. No posturing is required. We simply serve well according to our roles.

There is a point of service in every teaching handed to us by authority figures. We should listen for the service call. It will direct our practice. Our leaders may preach and not practice, but that does not matter concerning the preaching. There’s truth in their teaching somewhere.

In Matthew 16, the compliment to today’s reading tells us how this works. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” 

The exalted already have their reward. We don’t need to worry about those in authority over us. In addition, any prize in this or the next life should not be our concern. It is not part of the service mission anyway and probably not part of the practice of our upcoming eternity either. 

We have but one Spirit behind the authority assigned to everyone, including us. We have but one Father in heaven behind all the assigned fathers and mothers in this life, including us. We have only one master, the Christ. 

Knowing that exaltation belongs to the one who deserves it makes everything much more straightforward. Service will not only mark what Jesus wants to do, but it puts us in the same fieldwork with God. He is also there, serving with and for us. 

Jesus serves his brothers and sisters. The truly exalted one (and therefore holy one) pours out himself for us. That is our shining witness of God’s commission.