Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 151

Have we not all the one father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers?

Because the Lord's Prayer runs so deep in Christian religion we may be surprised that the Old Testament rarely speaks of God as "father." The Hebrews and their descendants, the Jews, speak of God first as the redeemer who freed them from the slavery of Egypt and continues to go with them.With continuing revelation they know their Savior is also the Lord of lords and God of gods. He is the Creator who spoke the Word and the universe sprang into being. In fact, there are no other gods; the idols of other religions are nothing more than fictions of human imagination.
But the Divine Authors of the Hebrew Bible seem reluctant to trespass upon God's sovereign majesty with a name as bold as "Father." There are only occasional references as in

• Deuteronomy 32:6 -- Is this how you repay the LORD, so foolish and unwise a people? Is he not your father who begot you, the one who made and established you? 
• Job 31:18 -- Though like a father he has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother’s womb.

In the New Testament we find far less reluctance to call God the Father but there remains one important boundary. Jesus has an entirely unique relationship to God, whom he addresses as "Abba." We may call him "Our Father" but we should not suppose Jesus is just one of the brothers. 
On that first Easter Sunday he told Mary Magdalene, "I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." They are the same Divine Person but the relationship is different. The Evangelist will not permit us to confuse the relationships.

In today's first reading we hear the Prophet Malachi scolding his people with that important word, "Have we not all the one father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers?" There can be no sibling rivalry in this Father's household. As Jesus will tell us, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask!" You have only to ask. 
In today's gospel Jesus pointedly reminds us that, as children of God, we should not regard anyone too highly. "Call no one rabbi!" and "Call no one father" are typical Hebraic exaggerations to remind us that no one can hide from God's judgment behind a pastor's or bishop's authority. Religious leaders, be they ancient, pharisaic rabbis or modern Catholic monsignors, are sinful persons like everyone else. Their foolishness is no excuse for yours or mine. Your father, who sees in secret, knows what you intend despite any lame excuses like, "the priest said it was okay" or "the priest does it too." 
Each time we celebrate the Mass the Church reminds us that we dare to call God "Our Father." We should do so with fear and trembling, eagerly, confidently, gratefully and joyfully.