Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

19th July, 2020

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13.16-19

Responsorial Psalm: 86:5-6.9-10.15-16a (R.5a)

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

The Just Judge reveals His Kingdom patiently 

I was strucked the first time I read in the Sacred Scripture that God is Love, because I know and it is obvious that Love rewards and Love punishes. 

Love rewards those who do good and punishes those who do evil. Because Love rewards the good and punishes the evil, Love has power over both the good and the evil.  This makes Love the Judge of all things.

If God is Love and Love judges, Love must be wise. The first Reading talks about the Wisdom of God and his judgment. Because God is Love, and Love is wise in judging, God judges justly. So in Love, we find Wisdom.  Intrestly last two weeks Jesus invited us to take his yoke which is easy upon ourselves and we will find rest. Last week also, we where shown three things that are obstacles to the growth of the Word of God and hence stumbling block to us finding rest.

To be able to become like the good soil, we need help from God. Well Sirach 51:26 invites us to put our neck under the yoke of Wisdom and let our soul receive instruction, she  is near us and we will eventually find peace.

Sirach 51:26 (NJB)
"put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach."

The problem of our world concerns  evil or disorder or sin, and we mostly wonder how a good God allows them. But since we are not wiser than God, our judgment concerning these things are always faulty, because  we don't know the "full picture."

This is the reason why we must put the yoke of Wisdom upon us and be instructed. Wisdom is given to us by God himself, who giving us the Holy Spirit, who is Love that exist between the Father and the Son and hence proceed from the Father and the Son, has given us the capacity to judge our decisions wisely and do good.  

In judging  therefore, we must exercise patience. Today's gospel focuses on patience, which we learn from the wise and Just Judge. Although each of the Parables have a specific problem is addressing, all the three talks about  patience. Patience is a  characteristic of  Love as found in 1 Corinthians 13:4 which reads;

 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NJB)

"Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,"

In the first parable the owner has to wait patiently for both the wheat and the darnel to grow till harvest time so that, the good will be distinguished from the bad. The Second one has to do with waiting patiently for the mustard seed to die under the ground, take root and grow till it becomes the tree habitable for the birds.  The Last Parable also concerns patience because the Baker has to wait patiently for the yeast to leavened through the flour. 

From "the Lord's Prayer", we should realize that when ever God's will is been done on earth, it means his Kingdom is also here on earth. But if God's Kingdom is here, why is evil still in the world? This is what the various Parables seeks to answer. 

The First answers that, there are two seeds, the good and the bad which resembles each other, so unless the final days when the Kingdom is fully revealed and final judgment is given by God, we would not know those who are the good seeds and those who are the bad seeds. Thus that which separates the good person  from the bad is very thin, making judgment by us difficult, and hence why a good person can easily do evil and an evil person can turn to do good. Only God can reveal fully the Kingdom to us, and judge justly. 

The second answers that, the Kingdom of God from it's beginning, is imperceptible, but with time and at the final days it will be fully revealed with it glory, giving rest to all who have been seeking rest and have waited for God's judgment for their Salvation. 

The Last one answers that, as the Greek word "ekgrupto"  used for 'hid' in this passage  means "to conceal in something," the Kingdom of God is concealed or encrypted in the world and gradually it will be revealed fully to the world. 

Matthew 12:28 (NRS)

"But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you. 

By

Sylvester Amakye-Quayson