The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to the Indigenous People of Canada on the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The texts from the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) are different from the USCCB texts and connect well with the mission of the Pope.
The reading from the Book of Sirach is a hymn in honour of our ancestors.
* [44:1–50:24] As in the previous section God’s glory shone forth in the works of nature, so in these chapters it is revealed through the history of God’s people as seen in the lives of their ancestors, prophets, priests, and rulers. The example of these great people, whose virtues are recalled here, constitutes a high point of Ben Sira’s teaching. (Sirach, CHAPTER 44, n.d.)
Psalm 132 praises the Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion.
* [Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6. (Psalms, PSALM 132, n.d.)
The Gospel from Matthew 13 identifies Blessed eyes and ears followed by Jesus explanation of the Parable of the Weeds.
* [13:1–53] The discourse in parables is the third great discourse of Jesus in Matthew and constitutes the second part of the third book of the gospel. Matthew follows the Marcan outline (Mk 4:1–35) but has only two of Mark’s parables, the five others being from Q and M. In addition to the seven parables, the discourse gives the reason why Jesus uses this type of speech (Mt 13:10–15), declares the blessedness of those who understand his teaching (Mt 13:16–17), explains the parable of the sower (Mt 13:18–23) and of the weeds (Mt 13:36–43), and ends with a concluding statement to the disciples (Mt 13:51–52). (Matthew, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
Jeanne Schuler reflects on Jeremiah 14:17-22 as the Israelite people plead for mercy.
Don Schwager quotes “Let us become friends of Jesus,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Now, having discoursed sufficiently to the multitudes in parables, he sends them away and goes to his own house, where his disciples come to him. His disciples did not go with those he sent away. As many as are more genuine hearers of Jesus first follow him, then having inquired about his house, are permitted to see it. Having come, they saw and stayed with him for all that day, and perhaps some of them even longer. In my opinion, such things are implied in the Gospel according to John... And if then, unlike the multitudes whom he sends away, we wish to hear Jesus and go to the house and receive something better than the multitudes did, let us become friends of Jesus, so that as his disciples come, we may also come to him when he goes into the house. And having come, let us inquire about the explanation of the parable, whether of the tares of the field, or of any other. (excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.1-3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us comments that like a good gardener, Jesus looks after his plants closely. He follows their progress, fertilizes, protects, and checks on them every day. When pests invade or weeds grow up, he tends his garden to keep his plants strong enough to withstand even the weeds growing beside them.
So take some time to think about the ways that Jesus has been actively cultivating his life in you. Remember the times that his presence was close, or you were provided for in an unforeseen way. Think about the blessings he has given you—even the blessing of endurance to face challenges. Sometimes it can be hard to recognize what he is doing until after the fact, but you can trust that he is always there. Like a good gardener, he watches over you.
“Lord, help me to see the ways you protect and cultivate your life in me.” (Meditation: Matthew 13:36-43, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the suffering of the nation of Israel during the Exile and Jeremiah’s call for rescue depending on the mercy of God. Friar Jude reminds us of the theme in Matthew’s Gospel where the mercy of God is expressed as well as our accountability in a final judgement.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Sikh activist Valarie Kaur who has made a commitment to listen to those with whom she disagrees. Here she describes some of the practices that make it possible.
When listening gets hard, I focus on taking the next breath. I pay attention to sensations in my body: heat, clenching, and constriction. I feel the ground beneath my feet. Am I safe? If so, I stay and slow my breath again, quiet my mind, and release the pressure that pushes me to defend my position. I try to wonder about this person’s story and the possible wound in them. I think of an earnest question and try to stay curious long enough to be changed by what I hear. Maybe, just maybe, my opponent will begin to wonder about me in return, ask me questions, and listen to my story. Maybe their views will start to break apart and new horizons will open in the process. . . . Then again, maybe not. It doesn’t matter as long as the primary goal of listening is to deepen my own understanding. Listening does not grant the other side legitimacy. It grants them humanity—and preserves our own. (Rohr, 2022)
When we suffer with misunderstanding and confusion, the Spirit seeks to broaden our understanding and reconcile the offenses that separate people.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13
Meditation: Matthew 13:36-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/26/449163/
Psalms, PSALM 132. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/132
Rohr, R. (2022, July 26). Courageous Listening — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/courageous-listening-2022-07-26/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Righteous Will Shine like the Sun in the Father's Kingdom. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul26
Sirach, CHAPTER 44. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/44
No comments:
Post a Comment