17th Sunday - A (July 26, 2020)

Treasure and Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:44-52

Three weeks ago, on the 14^th Sunday, we heard Jesus giving praise to God who “have revealed to little ones” out of God’s “gracious will.”

Today, we hear again in St. Paul’s testimony that God has chosen us to be God’s children (2^nd Reading).

God is the merchant who searches for us because for God, we are the treasures and the pearls of great price.  The parable of a merchant selling all that he has to buy a pearl or a field with a treasure might sound ridiculous.  But still, that is merely a symbol of God’s love.  This love is so great, beyond our comprehension, that God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, died the death of a slave on the cross for us sinners.   

Thus, in the Easter Proclamation, the Church professes, “to ransom a slave you gave away your Son.”

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org

16th Sunday - A (July 19, 2020)

Kindness

Matthew 13:24-43

Good seed, children of the kingdom, smallest, bear fruit (Gospel), lenient, clemency, kind (First Reading).  

These keywords from the readings of this Sunday remind us of the way God deals with us and the way we are called to imitate. 

There are times when things may not appear that way.  Our sins, darkness, and evil can appear loud, powerful and overwhelming. 

Still, the goodness of God is already in us and all around us.  Jesus calls us, “children of the kingdom” (Gospel).  St. Paul assures us, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness” (Second Reading).   The writer the Book of Wisdom professes God’s patience to us sinners, “[giving] your children good ground for hope, [and permitting] repentance for their sins” (First Reading).

That is the way of our God who is “master of might” and “over all things.”  This God also teaches “that those who are just must be kind” (First Reading).

15th Sunday - A (July 12, 2020)

Blessed!

Matthew 13: 1-23

“Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you.” 

Continuing the Gospel we heard a week ago, we are the “little ones” who God, in God’s “gracious will,” has “revealed” these mysteries to us. 

Indeed, “blessed are our eyes, because they see, and our ears, because they hear.”

All is grace.

There is no room for a sense of entitlement. 

Only humility and gratitude. 

14th Sunday - A (July 5, 2020)

I am Meek and Humble of Heart”

Matthew 11: 25-30

Jesus describes himself as “meek and humble of heart.”

And he reveals God and God’s mysteries to “little ones.”

That is the way of God who is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. 

Such a contrary to the way of our world. 

What’s going on in our society these days challenges us to be radically different if we want to remain “little ones” who have been drawn to the mystery of a God who is meek and humble of heart. 

And let us not be deceived thinking that being meek and humble is weak.  In fact, it takes inner strength, courage, and self-control to be meek and humble. 

Only the power of love, which is the power of God, can give us the strength to be meek and humble. 

Image source:  Josefa de Ayala, The Sacrificial Lamb.  

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