The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the restorative action of God through the Holy Spirit to bring us to full life.
The reading from the Book of Exodus shares the relationship of Moses with God in the camp and through the reception of the Ten Commandments.
Psalm 103 offers thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds.
* [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.
* [13:38] The field is the world: this presupposes the resurrection of Jesus and the granting to him of “all power in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18).
* [13:39] The end of the age: this phrase is found only in Matthew (13:40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).
* [13:41] His kingdom: the kingdom of the Son of Man is distinguished from that of the Father (Mt 13:43); see 1 Cor 15:24–25. The church is the place where Jesus’ kingdom is manifested, but his royal authority embraces the entire world; see note on Mt 13:38.
Mike Cherney is grateful for God’s patience.
Dear Lord,
The passage from Exodus leaves me longing for a firsthand encounter with You.
Too often I look for a direct answer to my prayer and instead I experience silence.
I find myself asking for Your forgiveness for the bad seeds that I have sown.
I am grateful for Your response even when it is mediated through Scripture.
I think of Your patience described in today’s parable
and Your mercy described in today’s Psalm.
I am bothered when I encounter the seeds of discord in the mainstream of discourse.
I look for Your guidance in my interactions with this world. (Cherney, n.d.)
Don Schwager presents a meditation on “The Righteous Will Shine like the Sun in the Father's Kingdom.”
The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28 comments on how God poured out the Spirit so that we could know his love and affection, not just know about it (Romans 5:5).
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the special relationship between God and Moses in the tent of meeting and during the second reception of the Ten Commandments. The Israelites are described by Moses as a “stiff-necked” people. Friar Jude reminds us of the reward of the righteous as described in the parable.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Franciscan sister Nancy Schreck who locates Jesus’ commitment to nonviolence in God’s unconditional and inclusive love. Schreck points to healing as a natural consequence of belonging.
If the starting place for exploring the nonviolence of Jesus is in his vison of the all embracing love of God, our reflection is furthered by his vision of universal healing. This approach to life includes hope for the basic well-being of the other. This was Jesus’ deepest wish for each person he encountered. In the gospel we see him moving among so many kept outside the circle of well-being by institutional violence which claimed that healing and well-being belonged to some and not to others. Jesus always found those who had been pushed outside the circle of care and invited them back into the community through the door of healing. He taught the community that its well-being was tied to the well-being of each member. (Rohr, 2023)
The prompts of the Spirit remind us of the patience of God in calling us to be numbered among the wheat rather than the weeds.
References
Cherney, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton University OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/
Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?36
Rohr, R. (2023, August 1). Inclusive Love Heals All — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inclusive-love-heals-all-2023-08-01/
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