Tuesday of the
Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hosea 8:4-7.11-13; Matthew 9:32-38)
Isn’t it strange that today’s gospel refers to the people
as like sheep in one sentence and in the next as a field of harvest? Shepherds and farmers are notorious rivals. Witness Cain and Abel for example. Then why does Matthew mix these metaphors?
Perhaps he wants to contrast Jesus’ perspective with the
narrow outlook of the Pharisees. The passage
begins with the Pharisees accusing Jesus of casting out demons “by the prince
of demons.” They refuse to include in
their field of vision a positive reading of Jesus’ actions. Rather they choose to see him narrowly, as in
league with the devil. Jesus, on the
other hand, cures “every disease and illness.”
His broad perspective allows him to resist evil and support goodness in
all their forms.
We too should strive for inclusiveness. We must not approve bad behavior, but we
should help everyone live good lives. Even
those people commonly associated with bad behavior we need to care about. This is what Jesus means when he says, “The
harvest is abundant…”
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