The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to struggle with the nudges of the Spirit to work to break down barriers between people as we present ourselves as labourers in the fields of Christ.
In the reading from the Book of Genesis, Jacob Wrestles at Peniel
* [32:23–33] As Jacob crosses over to the land promised him, worried about the impending meeting with Esau, he encounters a mysterious adversary in the night with whom he wrestles until morning. The cunning Jacob manages to wrest a blessing from the night stranger before he departs. There are folkloric elements in the tale—e.g., the trial of the hero before he can return home, the nocturnal demon’s loss of strength at sunrise, the demon protecting its river, the power gained by knowledge of an opponent’s name—but these have been worked into a coherent though elliptical narrative. The point of the tale seems to be that the ever-striving, ever-grasping Jacob must eventually strive with God to attain full possession of the blessing.
* [32:25] A man: as with Abraham’s three visitors in chap. 18, who appear sometimes as three, two, and one (the latter being God), this figure is fluid; he loses the match but changes Jacob’s name (v. 29), an act elsewhere done only by God (17:5, 15). A few deft narrative touches manage to express intimate contact with Jacob while preserving the transcendence proper to divinity.
* [32:29] Israel: the first part of the Hebrew name Yisrael is given a popular explanation in the word saritha, “you contended”; the second part is the first syllable of ’elohim, “divine beings.” The present incident, with a similar allusion to the name Israel, is referred to in Hos 12:5, where the mysterious wrestler is explicitly called an angel. (Genesis, CHAPTER 32, n.d.)
Psalm 17 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
* [Psalm 17] A lament of an individual unjustly attacked. Confident of being found innocent, the psalmist cries out for God’s just judgment (Ps 17:1–5) and requests divine help against enemies (Ps 17:6–9a). Those ravenous lions (Ps 17:9b–12) should be punished (Ps 17:13–14). The Psalm ends with a serene statement of praise (Ps 17:15). The Hebrew text of Ps 17:3–4, 14 is uncertain. (Psalms, PSALM 17, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Heals One who was mute and declares that the Harvest Is Great, and the Labourers few.
[9:32–34] The source of this story seems to be Q (see Lk 11:14–15). As in the preceding healing of the blind, Matthew has two versions of this healing, the later in Mt 12:22–24 and the earlier here.
* [9:34] This spiteful accusation foreshadows the growing opposition to Jesus in Mt 11 and 12.
* [9:35] See notes on Mt 4:23–25; Mt 8:1–9:38.
* [9:36] See Mk 6:34; Nm 27:17; 1 Kgs 22:17.
* [9:37–38] This Q saying (see Lk 10:2) is only imperfectly related to this context. It presupposes that only God (the master of the harvest) can take the initiative in sending out preachers of the gospel, whereas in Matthew’s setting it leads into Mt 10 where Jesus does so. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Ann Mausbach comments that St. Benedict believed that the best way to serve God was through work and that this needed to happen in community with others. St. Benedict’s influence changed monastic life to emphasize communal living, prayer, work, and study. The motto attributed to him is Ora et Labora (prayer and work).
Let us take a nod from today’s gospel and the life of St. Benedict by praying and working towards providing compassion to our fellow man and nurturing spaces in ourselves and around us that cultivate a deeper relationship with God. May we work and pray in that vein. (Mausbach, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Freedom and healing in Christ,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"In the deaf and dumb and demoniac appear the need of the Gentiles for a complete healing. Beleaguered on all sides by misfortune, they were associated with all types of the body's infirmities. And in this regard a proper order of things is observed. For the devil is first cast out; then the other bodily benefits follow suit. With the folly of all superstitions put to flight by the knowledge of God, sight and hearing and words of healing are introduced. The declaration of the onlookers followed their admiration over what took place: 'Never has the like been seen in Israel.' Indeed, he whom the law could not help was made well by the power of the Word, and the deaf and dumb man spoke the praises of God. Deliverance has been given to the Gentiles. All the towns and all the villages are enlightened by the power and presence of Christ, and the people are freed from every impairment of the timeless malady. (excerpt from ON MATTHEW 9.10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38 comments that sin can cause us to feel weighed down with shame. As Adam and Eve did in the garden, we want to hide from God. But he isn’t angry with us. He doesn’t hate us or reject us. No, he seeks after us. He calls out to us, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). He suffers with us, and he offers us his gentle kindness. Moved with divine pity, he seeks to tend to our wounds, remove our guilt, and build us up in his love.
Close your eyes for a minute and try to picture what Jesus’ pity looks like. Imagine the concerned look in his eyes and the warm smile on his face. Feel him putting his arms around you and drawing you close to his heart. He is not judging or condemning you; he is speaking words of comfort, guidance, and hope to you. He’s filling you with strength to take another step closer to him.
Jesus’ pity may look different for you than it does for your neighbor. It may not look exactly as you have imagined it. But it is real, and it has the power to reshape your heart.
“Jesus, thank you for loving me. I accept your pity—your compassion—and I open my heart today to your healing and forgiveness.” (Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38, 2023)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the fear that Jacob has of Esau as he separates his family into two groups. Chutzpah is an attitude we can adopt, like Jacob, when we wrestle with God. Friar Jude reminds us of the shepherd responsibility that Jesus takes up when the people are neglected by the religious authorities.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how exclusion works. Everything does not belong when people and systems project their evil elsewhere. As long as we try to deal with evil by some other means than forgiveness, we will never experience the real meaning of evil and sin. We will keep projecting, fearing, and attacking it over there, instead of “gazing” on it within ourselves and weeping over it. Author Cole Arthur Riley, creator of Black Liturgies, considers the toll that exclusion takes.
I wonder if God feels as alienated from us as we do from [God]. Sometimes, it cracks me up to think of the stories that describe Christ just boldly inviting himself over to people’s houses for dinner. Roaming around telling people to stop everything and follow him. Multiplying food, but making everyone sit down in groups to eat it. He knew how to make his own belonging. Do we? [4] (Rohr, 2023)
We are invited by the Spirit to have a relationship with God that contains more chutzpah and results in prayerful attention to the work of Jesus' mission.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 32. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/32?23
Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?
Mausbach, A. (2023, July 11). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071123.htm
Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38. (2023, July 11). The Word Among Us. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/11/731770/
Psalms, PSALM 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/17?1
Rohr, R. (2023, July 11). We Create Exclusion or Belonging — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/we-create-exclusion-or-belonging-2023-07-11/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Never Seen Anything like This. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul11
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