Greetings on this the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43
Summary
And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins (Wis 12:19).
Reflection
In our sacred readings today, particularly in the second reading, we are given hope that we can become the people the Lord wants us to be.
Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will (Rom 8:26-27).
In the gospel portion, two specific points are made by Jesus.
- The evil one sows what opposes the Kingdom (An enemy has done this).
- The final separation belongs to the angels acting according to divine judgment—not to us. (The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels).
The Lord prefers we think in terms of yeast and mustard seeds.
Small things done with great love (baking with the yeast of love and planting confidence with a tiny mustard seed).
A woman prepares food for her family using a small amount of yeast and patience to bring about sustenance. Three measures of flour is a lot of love (50 pounds of bread)! She prepares not a meager amount. No, she prepares a feast of love for many!
A mustard seed. The smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’ If you allow me, I think this is the masculine imperative of the two parables. But that’s my bias. Feel free to ignore that comment 🙂 Everyone is called both to nourish and to shelter.
Kindness is the single most prominent form of expression of the divine presence. Period. End.
Personal Reflection
Plant a tree of safety.
Cook a batch of love.
The Lord will be your strength.
Those who are just must be kind.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071926.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry