Breaking the Word

17^th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 26^th July 2022 — Gospel:           Mt 13,36-43

Judgment as On-going Process

The explanation of the parable of the weeds focuses on the judgement that will befall on “all causes of sin and all evildoers” (Mt 13,41). The one who sows the weeds among the children of the kingdom is called an “enemy”, identified as a devil. We find three other references to the “enemies” in the Gospel of Matthew. The first time, Jesus exhorts his disciples to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5,43-44). The question that arises at this juncture is, if these enemies are destined for a “furnace of fire” (Mt 13,42), then why should we love them here and now? It is because God who is judge of all, causes the sun to rise on both the evil and the good (Mt 5,45). The second reference to “enemies” is about Jesus telling his disciples that he is sending them out as sheep among wolves, where “one’s enemies will be members of one’s own household” (Mt 10,36). In this situation, the question that arises is what would make us enemies of one another within our closest members of our families? It is the lack of Love of God in our brothers and sisters. In the final occurrence, Jesus quotes the prophecy of David from Ps 110,1 with respect to the Messiah, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” (Mt 22,24). Here the enemies are destroyed by the anointed king. All the references highlight that in our midst there are enemies, the children of the evil one. The human tendency is to want to set things right immediately, but Jesus urges his hearers to be patient and wait for God’s judgment. The children of the evil one who play the role of the enemies will be cast out from the presence of God where they will weep and gnash their teeth (8,12; 13,50; 22,13; 24,51; 25,30). In the end, the enemies are punished for what they have done. Judgment is necessary and important. Not as means of self-satisfaction, rather as a continuous process of discernment to better our life here and now.

St.James, Monday – 25^th July 2022 — Gospel: Mt 20,20-28

God Transforms human weakness

James is the first of the apostles to be martyred and is the only one who has his death recorded in the New Testament (Acts 12,1-2).The synoptic gospels describe that he is the brother of John, the evangelist and they were the sons of a fisherman, Zebedee. James is part of threesome that seems to have a special closeness with Jesus. He, Peter and John witness the transfiguration and are present in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night of Jesus’ arrest. The story of the mother of James and John asking secure places for their two sons in Jesus’ kingdom show that their special place in Jesus’ heart was apparent to others. So much so that it fosters jealousy among the apostles. Whether we express it or not, each of us wants to be recognized, wants to be accepted and seeks higher positions in the society. We all have the temptation to follow the easy and the comfortable path – a path which often seeks to avoid rejection, struggles and pain. Jesus reminds us that to secure a place in God’s kingdom, demands a life of service and self-sacrifice, through the path of suffering, which can lead even to death. James and other disciples have been a witness to this by dying to oneself, to one’s selfishness, to one’s pride and arrogance. Thus God gradually transformed their human weaknesses into courageous and trusting testimony of God’s love and forgiveness.