Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 13:2.5-18; Matthew 7:6.12-14)
In a debate before the year 2000
presidential election George W. Bush said that he was “not into nation-building.”
He meant that he would not allow the United States to take responsibility for foreign
countries. When the U.S. invaded Iraq, however,
he had to eat those words. In any case, God
is “into nation-building” as both readings today testify.
Abram shows qualities that are
characteristic of a wise leader. When troubles
erupt between his kinsmen and those of Lot, he keeps his clan together. He is also willing to make a strategic
sacrifice of better land for assured peace.
Noting Abram’s capacity, God promises that he will be father of
countless descendants. Jesus is laying
the blueprint for the Church when he tells his disciples to "enter through
the narrow gate.’” Nations do not
prosper through self-indulgence. Rather,
if they are to reach exalted status, their leaders must be just and their
peoples hardworking.
Perhaps we don’t want to think of ourselves
as nation-builders either. We would
rather devote ourselves to providing for our families or to saving our
souls. However, if our descendants are
going to be virtuous people, we have to work for a strong nation. We have to seek the common good, shun
corruption in all its forms, and urge others to do so as well.
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