Strife and Joy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, contrast the struggle as workers in Jesus' vineyard, with the deep joy that comes to us from our relationship with Christ.

Joy in the Struggle

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah he complains again and is reassured.

* [15:13–14] Though the wording of these verses is close to that in 17:3–4, the present passage is evidently God’s word to Jeremiah, whereas 17:3–4 is evidently a word of judgment on Judah. It is noteworthy that the references to “you” in the present passage are singular, until a shift to plural in “against you” in the last line; this “you” is then doubtless a reference to both the prophet and his enemies. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 59 is a prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.

* [Psalm 59] A lament in two parts (Ps 59:2–9, 11b–17), each ending in a refrain (Ps 59:10, 18). Both parts alternate prayer for vindication (Ps 59:2–3, 4b–5, 11b–14) with vivid depictions of the psalmist’s enemies (Ps 59:4–5a, 7–8, 15–16). The near curse in Ps 59:12–13 is not a crude desire for revenge but a wish that God’s just rule over human affairs be recognized now. (Psalms, PSALM 59 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents Three Parables

* [13:44–50] The first two of the last three parables of the discourse have the same point. The person who finds a buried treasure and the merchant who finds a pearl of great price sell all that they have to acquire these finds; similarly, the one who understands the supreme value of the kingdom gives up whatever he must to obtain it. The joy with which this is done is made explicit in the first parable, but it may be presumed in the second also. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Cynthia Schmersal finds herself romanticizing or glossing over the gritty realities of St. Ignatius’ pilgrim journey – his thwarted plans, his struggles – exterior and interior, and his invitations to humility.

On his Feast this year, in our remembering and our celebrating, may we also acknowledge the complexity of St. Ignatius’ life and of our own lives, lovingly and ever so gently attending to the spaces in our lives that cry out “Woe to me, mother that you gave me birth!”, that question “Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?” May we – trusting in our identities as beloved pearls of great price and in the One who is indeed our refuge – turn to our God and hear – in the depths of our being – the abiding assurance “I am with you." (Schmersal, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Finding the pearl of great price,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Now among the words of all kinds that profess to announce truth, and among those who report them, he seeks pearls. Think of the prophets as, so to speak, the pearls that receive the dew of heaven and become pregnant with the word of truth from heaven. They are goodly pearls that, according to the phrase here set forth, the merchant seeks. And the chief of the pearls, on the finding of which the rest are found with it, is the very costly pearl, the Christ of God, the Word that is superior to the precious letters and thoughts in the law and the prophets. When one finds this pearl all the rest are easily released. Suppose, then, that one is not a disciple of Christ. He possesses no pearls at all, much less the very costly pearl, as distinguished from those that are cloudy or darkened." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 18.8) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46 comments that Ignatius renounced his past ambitions and turned his relentless zeal toward the quest for holiness. Out of love for Christ, he rigorously pursued prayer, penance, and contemplation. In 1522, he confessed his sins, gave away his fine clothes, and left his sword at an altar in the shrine of Montserrat. Together with several companions, he formed the Society of Jesus in 1539 and brought many people to faith in the Lord. Even today, Ignatius’ witness continues to inspire men and women to prize Jesus above all else and follow him unreservedly.

God may not be calling you to live as Ignatius did, but he does want you to find the pearl of great price. He wants you to taste the goodness of his Son Jesus and experience his love. He wants you to discover that nothing compares with knowing him. So open your heart to the Lord today. Ask the Spirit to help you love Jesus singleheartedly. By his grace, you can “sell all you have” to follow Christ and spread the good news of his love. It’s worth it!

“Thank you, Jesus, for being my pearl of great price.” (Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler introduces the confessions of Jeremiah that challenge God about the persecution that he endures as a possible betrayal by God. Our mission is to do our best and realize that failure to human eyes may be success in the eyes of faith. Friar Jude reminds us that the use of the Kingdom of Heaven phrase likely indicates a final editing of Matthew’s Gospel by a converted Pharisee.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theologian Dorothee Sölle (1929–2003) who understood God’s kingdom as good news for women and all oppressed people.

The Jesus movement lived in conflict with its society. Jesus expected the reversal of all social oppositions through God’s intervention, and this expectation—“the kingdom of God is at hand”—characterized the movement. All those who were outsiders according to the norms of society and held to be “impure” according to the law—the poor, the landless, public sinners, tax collectors, and women—were accepted here. “The last will be first” [Matthew 20:16] is a keynote permeating the whole message of Jesus. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate our journey and process the setbacks and struggles in the light of the joy that comes from our relationship with selfless love that is the treasure of immeasurable value.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/15?10 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?44 

Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/31/1036536/ 

Psalms, PSALM 59 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/59?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. The Last Shall Be First. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-last-shall-be-first/ 

Schmersal, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/073124.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Joy in Finding Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul31 

Tension and Triumph

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of the tension in the world and in our lives between evil motives and consequences and our gift of faith that points to the path of truth, goodness, and eternal life.

Diverting from the Path

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, the People plead for Mercy.

n. [14:17] Jer 9:17.

o. [14:19] Jer 8:15; 2 Chr 36:16.

p. [14:20] Ps 106:6; Dn 9:5, 8.

q. [14:21] Jer 14:7; Lv 26:44; Ps 25:11.

r. [14:22] Jer 5:24; Zec 10:1. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 79 is a plea for Mercy for Jerusalem.

* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11). (Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB, n.d.)

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.

* [13:43] See Dn 12:3. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Sr. Candice Tucci, O.S.F. comments that we are cognizant of heaven and hell. We know there is both good and evil in this world. We see it all too often with foreign wars and the violence in a variety of ways within our own country. Our tears well up and our chests constrict when we hear of one more death, one more war crime, one more mass shooting, one more parent grieves.

Let us dry our tears and open our ears with consolation of knowing our God, Jesus, is full of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. He is the Sower. He is the WORD.

May we open our ears and our hearts to listen to the word of God lived out in and through the lives of each person and our own conscience.  Lived out as the seeds takes root or not! Lived out among the weeds. May we remove the weeds from our hearts so we can turn more fully toward the LIGHT. Choose life!

Humanity started out on fertile ground. We are here to help till the ground, make good soil for lives to live well in peace and with security. It is up to us to be a force of nature and tend this garden of life, of relationships that we have been given freely by our Creator.

We are disciples of Jesus missioned to carry out His word. (Tucci, 2024)

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 Meditation on Matthew 13:36-43 comments that it is challenging when we share the good news of Jesus.

One day, joined with all the saints, you will glorify your Father in his kingdom. You will blaze more brightly than ever! But don’t forget that you have the light of Christ in you today. In fact, your light might be just the thing that someone else needs. So don’t put it under a bushel basket. Instead, they let it shine for all to see (Matthew 5:14-15)! Don’t let fear or discouragement cover over that light. Let it burn brightly as you look forward to that day when you will glow like the sun in the kingdom of your Father!

“Lord, thank you for your presence in me. Help me to shine your light brightly today.” (Meditation on Matthew 13:36-43, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the lamentation of Jeremiah over the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE in conjunction with the exile to Babylon. The explanation of the parable of the weeds and wheat asserts the end of time judgement and an image of hell. Friar Jude reminds us that we choose the path by our decisions in life.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes the reign of God as an alternative way of relating. The word for that way of living in the in-between times is faith. Let’s get rid of every thought of faith as belief, as prosperity, or as a set of rules or moral guidelines. Those are fine, but they’re not what Jesus is talking about. He’s talking about the grace and the freedom to live God’s dream for the world now—while not rejecting the world as it is. That’s a mighty tension, one that is not easily resolved. 

Remember this: There are always two worlds. The world as it operates is power; the world as it should be is love. The secret of kingdom life is how we can live in both—simultaneously. The world as it is will always be built on power, ego, and success. Yet we also must keep our eyes intently on the world as it should be—what Jesus calls the reign of God.(Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit to guide our decisions as we live in the tension between good and evil and come to know the weeds in our environment that Christ desires we abandon for fullness in our life.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/14?17 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13? 

Meditation on Matthew 13:36-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/30/1035851/ 

Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/79?8 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. A Gracious Weed. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-gracious-weed/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul30 

Tucci, C. (2024, July 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/073024.html