Thursday, August 19, 2021

 

Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Judges 11:29-39a; Matthew 21:1-14)

Today’s first reading upsets the soul so much that it cries out for comment.  It can be linked to the gospel although it is not necessary to do so.  Both readings concern thoughtless action.  The judge Jephthah makes a foolish vow that he cannot be bound to keep.  The dolt who enters the wedding feast in the gospel parable should realize that society establishes customs with good reason.  To shamelessly transgress these customs deserves penalty.

If Jephthah were observant at all, he should have realized that human sacrifice is odious to God and therefore sinful.  Since he recklessly made the vow to sacrifice the first one – human or beast – to greet him, he should repent of his rashness and do penance when he sees his daughter.  He infinitely multiplies his sin by fulfilling his imprudent vow.  It is presumed that the man without a proper garment at the wedding feast both knew about the custom and had access to a garment.  But he defies social convention to do things his way.  If he did not want to wear a garment, he should not have come to the feast. 

God has given us a process of thought to know what really pleases him.  There are a lot of compunctions and rival feelings in our psyches that we must resist if we are to do this.  Making boastful vows and doing things one own way might make us feel important, but they transgress God’s law.