SATURDAY, SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Jer 7: 1-11 Ps 84: 3-6, 8, 11 Mt 13: 24-30
GOD IS PATIENT AND KIND
Life is made up of sweet and bitter experiences. When we have hardships, we tend to question God’s wisdom and feel we are unjustly targeted and we ask, “Why Me Lord?”. On the other hand, there are also quite a few who enjoy personal well-being, and financial or social security but forget God and assume all is their doing.
The first reading takes us to the times of Prophet Jeremiah around 595-590 BC. There is total lawlessness and immorality both at the personal as well as the social level, and in the bargain the poorest are pushed out of the way. We heard the details already. They trusted that they could live anyway as long as God’s temple was there, and the sacrifices were done accurately. That is pure business and not religion. God called their attention through various prophets but to no avail. No one was ready to change. Jeremiah even went that further to tell his audience that Just to trust in the temple sacrifices, without corresponding moral uprightness was a deceitful presumption.
God, like a good Father, is patient and he waits for the limits of human freedom. He waits for the weeds to grow along with the wheat. He does not over-protect us, nor does he require compelled obedience and love. He wants the good people to challenge the errant and also be challenged by the presence of the surrounding evil. That perennial polarity produces better choices, albeit difficult. However, when his kindness is taken as license, then God restores his honour. Human freedom has limits. When it crosses the lines, it destroys itself and also others. We saw it in World War II. But God knows to bring good from evil. He is in perfect control. Let us choose the side of God, the side of moral worth even though there are high social pressures to betray his Gospel values. Yes. We are assured of the reward of inner peace waiting for us here, and eternal bliss, beyond.
Response: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
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