Q&A 80
Q. By the way, that passage where Christ says "But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (Mt 23:8-9)" Is it literal? Is Christ forbidding me to call my own dad 'father'?
A. Basically, the passage and the context have our Lord warning the crowds and his disciples not to fall into the same trap, the scribes and pharisees fell into, of thinking they were of greater honour or esteem before (men and before) God because of their great knowledge of the law, because of the things they did such as taking the places of honour in the synagogues or because they were sons of great people.
With these words, Jesus clarifies that nobility by birth (i.e. claiming so-and-so is my father) has no standing before God. There are no classes among God's children. In Christ we are all equally sons and daughters of God - whether poor peasant or son of a king.
For this reason, our Lord immediately adds at the end of this lesson verses 11 & 12 on how really you can be a great child of God in God's own eyes: "11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Verse 8 and 9 consequently do not prohibit calling your dad or a Catholic priest "father" or your instructor "teacher". Only that we shouldn't think those relationships make us any greater or lesser in God's eyes.
Great week ahead!
7thFebruary 2016