How often do you use the word MINE? Is that a part of your vocabulary?

I have two nephews who are cousins, who are 6 months apart in age. Drew went through a stage that could be summed up in one word: “MINE”. Peter would pick up a toy and before you could blink - Drew would grab it out of his hands and say: ‘mine’. Peter being good- natured, headed to the small slide in the living room, and went down it. Drew immediately dropped the toy and took control over the slide (or at least tried - as mom and dad tried to restore some fairness) but you could tell - that slide was “mine’. Finally, in the move that brought some insight to this uncle’s eyes, Drew was playing with one toy, Peter another, and all was quiet on the western front... Drew got tired of his toy and set it down. Peter immediately picked it up at which point Drew wanted to claim it back. And then I realized - this is not about what toy is mine or his - but this is about whom has the authority, whom has the power here....

Call no one rabbi. Only one is your teacher. The rest...learners
Call no one father, only one is your father.
Call no one master- only one is your master - the messiah…

This is less about the titles, the honorifics that one attributes to an individual and more about whom has the authority in our lives. And the message from Jesus is pretty clear. Only to the Father and to Jesus and the Spirit do we invest ‘authority’ and ‘power’ rightly...

Call no one rabbi.
Call no one father.
Call no one master.
Yet in a hundred ways is it easy for me to find myself doing just that.

Call no one rabbi. The Rabbis put themselves into a position to mediate the people’s experience of God. Jesus says in effect – “No one can pray in place of you, and no one can dismiss your need to have an authentic relationship with God.” It is what you and you alone are responsible for.

Call no one Master (or Teacher in our idiom). Where have I turned for wisdom? In managing the parish and the Newman center, I get a lot of advice on how to do that. In one way or the other, they all say, “Take care of yourself.” And though the don’t necessarily say it, sometimes I hear “first” added to the end of that sentence… Important words, but what of the invitation ‘to serve the rest’ - to put my gifts on the line for others and not look for them to take care of me.... When I buy into that line while forgetting the example of Jesus who gave his life on the cross, then I have called another teacher that I shouldn’t have…

Call no one Father. The reading from Malachi is addressed to priests in an instruction about their common worship. “Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why have you broken faith with each other...? Malachi teaches that authority and power are given to us not so that we can claim ‘Mine’ - but that we might claim ‘ours’. That we might come together because we can’t make this journey on our own.... That we might live together honoring each other’s lives before we ever set foot in this space - call no one Father unless you are in right relationship with both God and our neighbor. It is what this communion - this common union of ours is about. We are taught here at this table how to let go of what is mine - so we can embrace what is ours...
Drew has learned to let go of that ‘mine stage’ - of those toys that so gripped him - so that a greater value can be seized - the value of enjoying the company of his cousin Peter. It is not easy. But when they laugh and giggle together, I sense that Drew is discovering that deeper connected-ness that comes when you set your sights on ‘the other’. But it is what you and me are invited to this Sunday - to learn that ‘mine’ is a word that does not fit in the kingdom. To learn that ‘ours’ comes from investing authority and power where it belongs – to God and Jesus and Spirit...

Call no one rabbi. No one can replace your being in relationship with God. Is there some practice, some person, some authority that you have put between you and God?

Call no one father, only one is your Father. And that makes us brothers and sisters. How well do you live “Ours” instead of “Mine”?

Call no one Master - only one is your Master, the messiah, Will you let him lead you to the cross of service?