Sunday, July 23, 2023

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 23, 2023

(Wisdom 12:13.16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43)

The gospel today deals with a challenging issue for Christians. In it Jesus explains how God tolerates evil. His teaching will be in the form of a parable. This is not surprising since we find Jesus in the middle of his parabolic discourse.  Although they are not full explanations, parables facilitate understanding of hard topics.

In the part of the speech today Jesus gives three parables. Each one describes "the Kingdom of heaven." It can be said that this very phrase is a type of parable. Instead of saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed…”, he could have said: “God may be likened to a man …” Like the Jews in general, Jesus enjoys using poetic comparisons. For this reason also he describes “the Kingdom of heaven” as like “a mustard seed” and like “yeast”.

Let me make a brief digression to explain the "problem of evil" that Jesus will illuminate with his parable. In a famous novel a man speaks about his rejection of God. He says that he cannot accept a God who allows innocent children to suffer. He then describes a case that the novelist took from the newspaper of the time. A five-year-old girl was tortured by her parents. They beat her, kicked her, locked her in an outhouse on a winter night, and did even worse. Such abuses still occur frequently worldwide. We have to ask, “How can God allow such things?

In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus assures us that God's intention is not to cause injury. The sower sows only "good seed." He also says that the forces of evil, an "enemy", are free to cause harm as with the weeds sown among the wheat. He then adds that the sower does not want to eradicate the tares because he knows that he will ruin some wheat in the process.

“Is this explanation alone valid as a justification for the suffering of children?” Maybe not! For this reason Jesus adds the other parables. In the beginning, God appears among men and women as a small thing. He is within the gentle breeze in the story of the prophet Elijah and like the mustard seed in the parable here. However, over time He seems to grow to provide relief to many in need. One can see this parable being realized in the many orphanages, schools, and hospitals established for the love of God. In the following parable Jesus says that God works mysteriously and silently among human beings.  His work is likened to a woman who mixes a handful of yeast into three measures of flour. The result is enough bread to feed a platoon of soldiers. In other words, although evil continues in the world, God is always countering it with more goodness.

Perhaps we are left with some concern. Some suffer tremendously while others only a little. "Why" -- we want to ask God -- "do you allow all these atrocities?" Let us turn to the second reading of the Letter to the Romans for the answer. St. Paul perceives God himself, the Holy Spirit, praying within us "with groans that cannot be expressed in words." This is to say that God provides us His own Spirit so that our hope does not falter.  The same Spirit will move us to join the struggle against evil.

These parables that illuminate the problem of evil do not say much compared to Jesus crucified. How can we question the goodness of God as we look at his Son hanging on the cross? Jesus did nothing to deserve this extremely torturous death. He endured it to free us from the punishment for our sins. Linked to the resurrection, the crucifixion of Jesus assures us of God's love. He frees us from sin and provides us with a destiny of glory.

Friday, July 21, 2023

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Exodus 11:10-12:14; Matthew12:1-8)

We cannot sufficiently appreciate Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address unless we consider its context.  Lincoln gave the speech just a few months after the famous Battle of Gettysburg.  It was the deadliest battle of the Civil War and had no clear victor.  But it did mark a turning of the tide.  Lee’s Army of Virginia was forced to retreat.  The Confederacy was on the defensive.  It was mostly a matter of time before it surrendered.  Lincoln used his opportunity to speak on the bloody battlefield to describe what the war meant – a sacrifice whose purpose was no less than the second founding of the American nation.  This time, however, the Union would be true to its first principle that all men and women are created equal. 

In order to appreciate the gift of the Eucharist we likewise need to understand its context.  Jesus instituted it while following the ancient tradition of a Passover supper, described in the first reading.  At the original Passover, taken in Egypt where the Hebrews were treated as slaves, each Hebrew household ate a roasted lamb, the blood of which was spread over the household’s portals.  This blood was understood as the cause of the Angel of Death´s passing over their dwellings while decimating their Egyptian masters. 

During the Passover meal he celebrated with his friends, Jesus pronounced a new meaning to the feast.  It would mark his death and resurrection.  He was the lamb that was to be slain the next day at his crucifixion.  His blood would also have a saving effect.  Christians do not dismiss the Jewish Passover today as somehow negligible compared to Christ’s.  Indeed, we are grateful for it as the key to understanding Christ’s death and resurrection.  It marks our passing over from the slavery of sin to freedom in Christ’s Spirit and from subjugation to death to the hope of everlasting life.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:13-20; Matthew 11:28-30)

Many stories involve journeys. The Odyssey is probably the most famous.  But one can readily add Don Quixote and The Canterbury Tales.  In all these journeys transformations takes place.  Characters become wiser or holier as they interact with one another.  Jesus has in mind such a transition in today’s gospel as he bids people to journey with him.

Yokes join animals so that they might pull a load together.  In the gospel Jesus offers anyone interested to share his yoke. Journeying with him, one will reach life’s fulfillment.  Takers cannot expect leisure.  But they will find happiness as He forms them in his way of love. 

Sharing Jesus’ yoke involves continual recourse to him in prayer while serving others.  It may sound like a lonely road, but there are plenty of positive examples.  Look at the Missionaries of Charity, the sisters of Mother St. Teresa of Kolkata.  Their lives are as rigorous as an army recruit’s.  Yet they radiate joy. 

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:1-6.9-12; Matthew 11:25-27)

In the first reading God tells Moses, “Come no nearer…the place where you stand is holy ground.”  Where Jesus stands in today’s gospel is also “holy ground.” Yet he invites the poor and oppressed to join him.  He wants these chosen people to know the “rest” that the Son shares with the Father.

Their rest is not merely an afternoon nap that energizes one to finish the day.  It is, rather, the relationship of love in which the Father gives over everything to the Son, the Son receives it and then gives it back to Father.  Such a mutually fulfilling exchange produces rest, peace, and joy.  It belies the wisdom of the world where people are told not to give but to take as much as they can.  Such a mindset supposedly makes one happy but actually ends in distress.

Imbued as we are in a market culture, we have difficulty accepting Jesus’ invitation.  We come to think of ourselves as “accomplished” when we own a big home and car.  We must recognize that our richest possession is the love of God that we cannot earn.  It is given to us as we die and rise with Christ in Baptism.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 2:1-15a; Matthew 11:202-24)

Ask anyone what was Jesus’ “own town.” They will likely answer “Nazareth.”  It is true that Jesus grew up in Nazareth according to the Gospel of Luke.  However, Matthew’s gospel calls Capernaum his town (9:1).  Evidently, he made the seaside town the base of his preaching mission.

Although he worked many wonders there, the people of Capernaum did not heed his message.  In today’s gospel, Jesus decries this development.  He actually predicts what eventually takes place.  Instead of Capernaum becoming famous, it is relatively unknown compared to Nazareth or Bethlehem.  But obscurity is not Capernaum’s ultimate fate, according to Jesus.  It still must face a judgment more severe than that of Sodom.

We may not have seen many miracles in our lifetimes.  But we have likely seen blessings bestowed on us and others more than deserved.  Yet too often, like the people of Capernaum, we neglect to give God due thanks and praise.  If this is true, let us change our ways to give God glory every day.