The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present many images of the nature of God, good and evil that we contemplate with the aid of the Spirit and our experience of relationship with Christ.
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| Growing together |
The reading from the Book of Wisdom contains some of God’s Lessons for Israel.
* [12:17] The brunt of divine anger and justice is borne by those who know God but defy divine authority and might. Cf. 1:2; 15:2, but also 12:27; 18:13.1
The Psalmist desires only God’s protection.
* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17).2
The text from the Letter of Paul to the Romans declares the Spirit intercedes for the saints.
* [8:18–27] The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God’s people (Rom 8:19–22). After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit’s presence will be realized. On earth believers enjoy the firstfruits, i.e., the Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the influence of the rebellious old self (Rom 8:23).3
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses parables to teach about patience, mercy, justice, and growth of the Kingdom.
* [13:37–43] In the explanation of the parable of the weeds emphasis lies on the fearful end of the wicked, whereas the parable itself concentrates on patience with them until judgment time.4
Gladyce Janky comments that in today's reading from the book of Wisdom, we hear that "Those who are just must be kind.
These are the men and women their friends call for a ride to a doctor's appointment or a trip to the grocery store. If someone needed to talk, they stop and listen. They make room in their lives for the "strays," the homeless person, or the abandoned kitten or puppy. For them, there is always room for one more. Need help fixing the lawnmower, cleaning the kitchen, or with the car that refuses to start? They step up, never asking for payment, or expecting kindness in return. They give generously and lovingly of their time and talent.5
Don Schwager quotes “Faith as a grain of mustard,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).
"The man who sows in his field is interpreted by many as the Savior. He sows in the souls of believers. By others he is interpreted as one who sows in his field - that is to say, in himself and in his heart. Who is it that sows if not our mind and heart? They take up the grain of preaching and nurture the plant with the moisture of faith, making it sprout and shoot up in the field of the heart. The preaching of faith in the gospel appears to be least among all tasks. Indeed, anyone who preaches the God-man of truth, Christ who died, and the stumbling block of the cross may not think immediately of mere faith as the primary doctrine. Put this particular doctrine side by side with the teachings of the philosophers, their books, their splendid eloquence and fine discourses, and you will see just how small it is compared with the other seeds of the gospel plant. When those teachings grow, they have nothing to show that is pungent or vigorous or vital. Everything turns out weak and withering in a plant and in herbs that quickly dry up and fall to the ground. But when this tiny gospel teaching that seemed insignificant at the beginning has been planted either in the soul of the believer or throughout the world, it does not turn out to be just a plant. It grows into a tree, so that the birds of the air, which we interpret as the souls of believers or deeds dedicated to the service of God, come and dwell on its branches." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.13.31)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 13:24-43 comments that it’s significant that after telling the first parable about the weeds and the wheat, Jesus tells two more parables about the kingdom of heaven. It’s like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large bush (Matthew 13:31-32). It’s like a little yeast that leavens a whole loaf of bread (13:33). These are hopeful images! God’s kingdom isn’t static. It begins in many small ways and then grows and grows.
You have a part to play in its growth! With every prayer, with every act of faith, with every good deed, you help to build the kingdom of heaven on earth. Making time for prayer, worshipping at Mass, helping the poor, sharing your faith, reaching out to a friend in need, speaking out in defense of life—in these ways and more, you can participate in growing God’s kingdom. Yes, they can seem like small things. But so are the mustard seed and that little pinch of yeast.7
Friar Jude Winkler shares the history of the Book of Wisdom as Jewish culture in an era of Greek domination. The parable shows good and evil people coexist as God gives all a chance to convert. Friar Jude reminds us that the Spirit reveals what we truly need rather than what we simply want.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, is excited to share another wonderful model of action and contemplation, Mary Magdalene. One of Jesus’ closest disciples, the Catholic Church celebrates her feast day on July 22.
Mary Magdalene is the person in the Gospel who most needs love to be stronger than death and so she is the first to know it—and perhaps at the deepest level. She is the first one who symbolically comes to “consciousness,” as it were, of Jesus as the risen Christ and thus is the clear “witness to the witnesses.” She is the real knower; in fact, love and knowing have become one in her. Mary is the archetypal name for all those who have been led by love into awareness of their True Selves and know its Source.8
The rich descriptions of the growth of the Kingdom and the role of kindness, patience, and compassion encourage our simple efforts to be Christ to others.
References
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