July 10, 2011
Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23
I have been immersed in an extensive landscaping project in our front and back lawns that helps me relate to this Gospel theme. I began the project as a response to the insidious vines that were choking tall pine and birch trees. I felt sad that these stately trees were being deprived of a flourishing life, but it seemed like a futile task to rid them of those thorny vines that protected themselves well. I wanted the good young growth that lay underneath the prickly thicket to have a good shot at life. New life needs a chance to start out well.
Isaiah tells us the rain and snow comes from heaven, like the word of God, to make the land fertile and fruitful. Jesus gives us a parable to illustrate how the word of God can take root even if it falls on diverse soils of receptivity. The Gospel describes four types of soil illustrating that the deep, unencumbered earth will be the best because the plant can bear fruit abundantly. The seed is the divine revelation that the kingdom of heaven is being planted on earth. The soil represent the different human receptions. Some of the attempts to spread the word and implant it in the soil will, without doubt, fail while the sower's work ultimately succeeds for the most part. Success will be measured by the fruit bearing of the recipients. This story is to give hope and encouragement to the hearers of the parable as the audience must participate if the story is to have an effect.
This is the third major discourse in Matthew's gospel where seven parables of the mysterious kingdom of heaven are told. In this setting, Jesus is in a public arena with the crowds and his disciples while later parables show Jesus in a more intimate discussion. These parables form the center of the Gospel structurally and in meaning. Teachings about the kingdom are the high point for Matthew. If hearers make themselves open in faith and hope to the revelation of God's plan of salvation, they can make rapid progress in understanding it. Matthew quotes Isaiah so he can introduce the intent of Jesus to heal and save the people so they may fully participate in the kingdom on earth and in heaven.
Jesus notes the failure to receive the word of the kingdom is not a failure in hearing, but one of understanding. Failure is both from "tribulation and persecution" and from "delight in riches." The point is that only the one who loves God with heart, soul (even to martyrdom), and strength (wealth) truly receives the words of Jesus. For Jesus, everything is centered on the pure love of God as a way to receive and understand the word of the kingdom.
As audience participation is key to understanding the parable, we have to decide how we are to respond to the invitation of the kingdom. We first have to learn what it is. It will be right for us to pay attention to the upcoming parables over the next few weeks to wrestle with our understanding of the kingdom. We are to integrate the hard sayings it asks of us. Much of life can be like those prickly vines that direct our attention away from God's plan of salvation for us. We will be known by our fruit. We cannot do much with some of our life's circumstances, but we can still choose to love God above all things. It is not easy as we have a lot of distractions and attachments to sort out, but God can help make the soil of our souls rich and deep where we can delight in our great generation of healthy, juicy fruit. Let's give that new life in God a chance to grow. Only goodness follows.
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First Reading: In Exodus, Egypt receives a new king who knows nothing of the protections offered to Joseph and his kin. As the Hebrews are becoming more numerous, Pharaoh enslaves the people and forces them into hard labor while commanding all newborn boys to be killed. A Levite bears a son and hides him in the reeds for three months. Pharaoh's daughter sees the child and is moved with pity on him and takes him into her home to raise him as a son. As a grown man, Moses is tending his flocks when God calls out to him from a burning bush to reveal that "I am the living God." God gives Moses a mission to liberate his people from the hands of the Egyptians who are dealing with them unjustly. Pharaoh is obstinate at Moses' words. The Lord set plagues on the land - even striking down the firstborn of land - every man and beast. Eventually, Pharaoh relents and the Israelites leave Egypt after their exile of 430 years.
Gospel: Jesus tells his friends that their decision to follow him will bring division among their families before it will bring peace. Following Jesus means accepting the cross and the humiliation that comes with it. Jesus reproaches the towns where most of his mighty deeds were done. Their great sin is like that of Sodom and Gomorrah that fail to offer hospitality to Jesus. Jesus proves he is a prophet in the line of Lady Wisdom who offers rest and comfort to those who turn to him. He teaches them the essential qualities of gentleness and humility. He then declares that he is the Lord of the Sabbath when he and his hungry disciples pick grain to satisfy their hunger. He tells them God desires mercy not sacrifice. The Pharisees take counsel against Jesus and decide to put him to death. Jesus withdraws to a place of safety and tells his friends that scripture is being fulfilled - God's chosen servant will be beaten and put to death for our freedom.
Saints of the Week
Monday: Benedict, Abbot (480-547), was educated in Rome, but left after a few years to take on a life of solitude. He became a monk at Subiaco and lived alone, but his lifestyle developed followers so he built 12 monasteries for them. He left to found a monastery at Monte Cassino where he wrote his Rule that became a standard for Western monasticism. He adopted the practices of the austere Desert Fathers for community life and emphasized moderation, humility, obedience, prayer, and manual labor.
Wednesday: Henry, king (972-1024) was a descendent of Charlemagne who became king of Germany and the Holy Roman Emperor. His wife had no offspring. He merged the church's affairs with the secular government and built the cathedral in the newly erected diocese of Bamberg. He was a just ruler who paid close attention to his prayer.
Thursday: Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) was the daughter of a Christian Algonquin mother and a non-Christian Mohawk chief. As a child, she contracted smallpox and was blinded and severely disfigured by it. She was baptized on Easter Sunday 1767 by Jesuit missionaries and was named after Catherine of Siena. She kept a strong devotion to the Eucharist and cared for the sick. She is named "the Lily of the Mohawks."
Friday: Bonaventure, bishop and Doctor (1221-1273), was given his name by Francis of Assisi to mean "Good Fortune" after he was cured of serious childhood illnesses. He joined the Franciscans at age 20 and studied at the University of Paris. Aquinas became his good friend. Bonaventure was appointed minister general of the Franciscans and was made a cardinal. He participated in the ecumenical council at Lyons to reunite the Greek and Latin rites. Aquinas died on the way to the council.
Saturday: Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patronal feast of the Carmelites. The day commemorates the day Simon Stock was given a brown scapular by Mary in 1251. In the 12th century, Western hermits settled on Mount Carmel overlooking the plain of Galilee just as Elijah did. These hermits built a chapel to Mary in the 13th century and began a life of solitary prayer
This Week in Jesuit History
• Jul 10 , 1881. Fr. Frederick Garesche' wrote from Sequin, Texas, to his Superior: "The cowboys who had not deigned at first to lift their hat to the priest or missionary; who had come to the mission as to a camp meeting, for the fun of the thing, gave in, and their smiles and awkward salutes showed that they had hearts under their rude exterior."
• Jul 11, 1809. After Pius VII had been dragged into exile by General Radet, Fr. Alphonsus Muzzarrelli SJ, his confessor, was arrested in Rome and imprisoned at Civita Vecchia.
• Jul 12, 1594. In the French Parliament Antoine Arnauld, the Jansenist, made a violent attack on the Society, charging it with rebellious feelings toward King Henry IV and with advocating the doctrine of regicide.
• Jul 13, 1556. Ignatius, gravely ill, handed over the daily governance of the Society to Juan de Polanco and Cristobal de Madrid.
• Jul 14, 1523. Ignatius departs from Venice on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
• Jul 15, 1570. At Avila, St Teresa had a vision of Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo and his companions ascending to heaven. This occurred at the very time of their martyrdom.
• Jul 16, 1766. The death of Giusuppe Castiglione, painter and missionary to China. They paid him a tribute and gave him a state funeral in Peking (Beijing).
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