Is that so hard?
No harder than for St. Paul or St. John. If they can identify themselves as spiritual parents, then maybe they understood what Our Lord meant a little better than whoever taught you that perverse interpretation. (check out 1 Cor 4:15 for just one example of this)
The problem is that the question is already answered in the context of the section you printed: 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
As St. John Chrysostom said,
But wherein are they earnest, and vigorous? In the things forbidden. For, “all their works they do,” He saith, “to be seen of men.” These things He saith, accusing them in respect of vainglory, which kind of thing was their ruin. For the things before were signs of harshness and remissness, but these of the mad desire of glory. This drew them off from God, this caused them to strive before other spectators, and ruined them. For whatever kind of spectators any one may have, since it hath become his study to please these, such also are the contests he exhibits And he that wrestles among the noble, such also are the conflicts he takes in hand, but he among the cold and supine, himself also becomes more remiss. For instance, hath any one a beholder that delights in ridicule? he himself too becomes a mover of ridicule, that he may delight the spectator: hath another one who is earnest minded, and practises self-government? he endeavors himself to be such as he is, since such is the disposition of him who praises him.
Or, as St. Augustine facetiously stated: each should as matter of course be also compelled to deny that the apostles had fathers on earth; since He gave them an injunction in these terms: “Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (de Fide, 4)
Point is, before you start pulling scripture out of conext (especially funny when you quote the context), you should make sure that you understand the context. Otherwise, you can explain why Job, Abrhaam, the levite with Micah, Eliakim, Paul, John, etc., etc., etc., are all referred in the same, exact context as Catholics use toward priests and bishops.
Maybe, just maybe, the Catholics are the more scriptural here in this context.
(Or maybe you should consider looking at Pastor ___ or Brother ____, who place themselves above God, and extend the context of Matthew 23 a little bit)
Your quote from St. John Chrysostom added nothing to the argument, and I am still scratching my head as to where you think the context of that applies.
This is even more bizarre:
Point is, before you start pulling scripture out of conext (especially funny when you quote the context),
??????
I posted the link and the text of the entire Chapter of Matthew 23 - and asked you to read and comment on it. Then, you accuse me of context?
Quite frankly sir/ma'am - I do not think you are capable of grasping it yourself.