Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Biographical Information about Saint Joachim and Saint Anne[1]
Readings for Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2] Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 7:1-11
In this passage, the Prophet Jeremiah, once more speaking with God’s voice, issues a call and a warning to the people who come the Temple that they must reform – repent – turn away from the evil, blasphemy, and callousness many have fallen into (“if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place, or follow strange gods to your own harm”). It is only if they do this that God will continue to remain with them. “The temple of the Lord will not serve as a place of refuge for the Jews against their enemies if they fail to reform their evil ways.”[3]
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Psalm 84 was used to celebrate pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem (3 times a year). Used here it recalls Jeremiah’s oracle that the temple would not be a refuge for the wicked nor the great gift his presence was for the faithful.
Gospel Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus tells another parable, about the harvest this time. Here we see his reference to the “good seed” and “bad seed”. The good seed here, since this is references as an analogy to the Kingdom of God, represents those who remain faithful to God’s laws and precepts. The fact that the householder does not permit his slaves to tear out the weeds for fear of killing the wheat as well is a warning to the disciples not to judge or attempt to alienate themselves from those with whom they have contact who reject the word. The “bad seed” represents those converted by God’s enemy who choke off the good seed and, in the eschaton, will be condemned to hell.
Reflection:
How many times have we seen politicians devoutly attending religious services and later found out they had done despicable things that ran totally contrary to their professed faith? Here in Southeast Michigan we are currently bombarded with information about the Mayor of Detroit who is charged with numerous counts of perjury of obstruction of justice. His extramarital exploits are at the heart of his problems and when confronted with these charges he chose to respond from a church in Detroit. It is believed by most people who have followed the story that this individual is the worst kind of hypocrite, preying on those he pledged to serve.
Jeremiah’s words most directly apply to people like him and any others who try to shield themselves from public ridicule by hiding themselves in a community of faith. Hypocrisy is one of the favorite targets of the God of Justice, and his Son for that matter. It is one of the great gifts of the Church that we are allowed to be repentant and it is clear, even from the time of Jeremiah that those who had transgressed God’s law were allowed to make amends and return to God’s favor. When the Jesus came, he provided two forms of grace for those who wish to follow him. First the initial cleansing in Baptism whereby all previous sins are washed clean and a new beginning is made. Once that initial adoption is made our recourse is to the Sacrament of Reconciliation where our repentance is accepted and God’s love is expressed.
Does that mean that the Church is not an inviting refuge for those who are enthralled with sin outside her walls? No, on the contrary, the safety of God’s love is viewed by the evil, the bad seed in Christ’s parable, as being our weakness. Those who care nothing for human dignity find it amusing that we gullible Christians would show them Christ’s love when they would take everything we have if they could. To those who have had evil sown in their hearts, the fires of the harvest chaff are waiting.
Our challenge is first to constantly turn away from sin and, through sacramental grace, realign ourselves with Christ. Second, we recognize that as wheat we grow up among the seed sown by the evil one but even that can be turned to good, so we must never stop trying to invite those around us, in spite of the risk of disappointment, to come back to the Lord with all their hearts.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “The Annunciation to Joachim and Anna” by Gaudenzio Ferrari, 1544-45
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] NAB footnote on Jeremiah 7:1-15
Biographical Information about Saint Joachim and Saint Anne[1]
Readings for Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2] Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jeremiah 7:1-11
In this passage, the Prophet Jeremiah, once more speaking with God’s voice, issues a call and a warning to the people who come the Temple that they must reform – repent – turn away from the evil, blasphemy, and callousness many have fallen into (“if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place, or follow strange gods to your own harm”). It is only if they do this that God will continue to remain with them. “The temple of the Lord will not serve as a place of refuge for the Jews against their enemies if they fail to reform their evil ways.”[3]
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Psalm 84 was used to celebrate pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem (3 times a year). Used here it recalls Jeremiah’s oracle that the temple would not be a refuge for the wicked nor the great gift his presence was for the faithful.
Gospel Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus tells another parable, about the harvest this time. Here we see his reference to the “good seed” and “bad seed”. The good seed here, since this is references as an analogy to the Kingdom of God, represents those who remain faithful to God’s laws and precepts. The fact that the householder does not permit his slaves to tear out the weeds for fear of killing the wheat as well is a warning to the disciples not to judge or attempt to alienate themselves from those with whom they have contact who reject the word. The “bad seed” represents those converted by God’s enemy who choke off the good seed and, in the eschaton, will be condemned to hell.
Reflection:
How many times have we seen politicians devoutly attending religious services and later found out they had done despicable things that ran totally contrary to their professed faith? Here in Southeast Michigan we are currently bombarded with information about the Mayor of Detroit who is charged with numerous counts of perjury of obstruction of justice. His extramarital exploits are at the heart of his problems and when confronted with these charges he chose to respond from a church in Detroit. It is believed by most people who have followed the story that this individual is the worst kind of hypocrite, preying on those he pledged to serve.
Jeremiah’s words most directly apply to people like him and any others who try to shield themselves from public ridicule by hiding themselves in a community of faith. Hypocrisy is one of the favorite targets of the God of Justice, and his Son for that matter. It is one of the great gifts of the Church that we are allowed to be repentant and it is clear, even from the time of Jeremiah that those who had transgressed God’s law were allowed to make amends and return to God’s favor. When the Jesus came, he provided two forms of grace for those who wish to follow him. First the initial cleansing in Baptism whereby all previous sins are washed clean and a new beginning is made. Once that initial adoption is made our recourse is to the Sacrament of Reconciliation where our repentance is accepted and God’s love is expressed.
Does that mean that the Church is not an inviting refuge for those who are enthralled with sin outside her walls? No, on the contrary, the safety of God’s love is viewed by the evil, the bad seed in Christ’s parable, as being our weakness. Those who care nothing for human dignity find it amusing that we gullible Christians would show them Christ’s love when they would take everything we have if they could. To those who have had evil sown in their hearts, the fires of the harvest chaff are waiting.
Our challenge is first to constantly turn away from sin and, through sacramental grace, realign ourselves with Christ. Second, we recognize that as wheat we grow up among the seed sown by the evil one but even that can be turned to good, so we must never stop trying to invite those around us, in spite of the risk of disappointment, to come back to the Lord with all their hearts.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “The Annunciation to Joachim and Anna” by Gaudenzio Ferrari, 1544-45
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
[3] NAB footnote on Jeremiah 7:1-15
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