How does God look at the sinner?
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisd 12:13. 16-19, Ps 85; Rom 8:26-27; Mt 13:24-43
On the 16th Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to reflect on three important things: the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the Kingdom of God and the final judgment.
The past Sunday readings centred on the theme of discipleship and on how we should welcome the Word of God in our lives. Now, the 2nd reading of this 16th Sunday in ordinary time taken from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that the Spirit of God resides in the lives of all disciples and not in the lives of some of them. Those who do away with the Word of God are simultaneously closing the doors of their heart to the vivifying Spirit of God. As Saint Paul emphasizes, it is the Holy Spirit who is our mentor in prayer, our help in weakness and our guide in understanding the richness of God’s Word. The first disciples had Jesus himself to help them understand the teachings which he imparted to them. We, in turn, have the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand God’s Word and live out its implications in our everyday life.
It can happen that when we see people around us who do not welcome the seed of God’s Word in their lives, we end up judging them left right and centre. The fact that good wheat and cockle are left to grow together might upset us. If we think in these terms, we would be miles away from understanding that God sent his only Son into the world for everybody, both for the righteous and for the wicked. His Kingdom is a gift offered and left open to all, even to the most wretched evil-doers whom we automatically are so ready to exclude. Thank God that our Good Lord does not envisage things the way we do!
God alone knows the time when the good wheat will be separated from the cockle. The liturgical readings of this 16th Sunday present 2 images of this moment of separation, both of which allude to the final judgment. The image presented in the Matthean Gospel instils fear. The cockle is gathered up and bound into bundles to be burnt, while the good wheat is collected into the sower’s barn. The book of Wisdom presents the image of God as just but merciful. His power is not manifested in his vengeance for our faults but in his readiness to be merciful towards us. As the 5th verse of Psalm 85 states: “You, O Lord, are sweet and merciful, rich in goodness to all that call upon you.”
May we too be strong in the conviction that, in spite of our sinfulness, God does not fear our sins but desires us to come close to Him so that our lives may be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we never forget the most worthy words in the book of Wisdom, that God gives sinners ample time for repentance!
Wisd 12:13. 16-19, Ps 85; Rom 8:26-27; Mt 13:24-43
On the 16th Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to reflect on three important things: the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the Kingdom of God and the final judgment.
The past Sunday readings centred on the theme of discipleship and on how we should welcome the Word of God in our lives. Now, the 2nd reading of this 16th Sunday in ordinary time taken from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that the Spirit of God resides in the lives of all disciples and not in the lives of some of them. Those who do away with the Word of God are simultaneously closing the doors of their heart to the vivifying Spirit of God. As Saint Paul emphasizes, it is the Holy Spirit who is our mentor in prayer, our help in weakness and our guide in understanding the richness of God’s Word. The first disciples had Jesus himself to help them understand the teachings which he imparted to them. We, in turn, have the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand God’s Word and live out its implications in our everyday life.
It can happen that when we see people around us who do not welcome the seed of God’s Word in their lives, we end up judging them left right and centre. The fact that good wheat and cockle are left to grow together might upset us. If we think in these terms, we would be miles away from understanding that God sent his only Son into the world for everybody, both for the righteous and for the wicked. His Kingdom is a gift offered and left open to all, even to the most wretched evil-doers whom we automatically are so ready to exclude. Thank God that our Good Lord does not envisage things the way we do!
God alone knows the time when the good wheat will be separated from the cockle. The liturgical readings of this 16th Sunday present 2 images of this moment of separation, both of which allude to the final judgment. The image presented in the Matthean Gospel instils fear. The cockle is gathered up and bound into bundles to be burnt, while the good wheat is collected into the sower’s barn. The book of Wisdom presents the image of God as just but merciful. His power is not manifested in his vengeance for our faults but in his readiness to be merciful towards us. As the 5th verse of Psalm 85 states: “You, O Lord, are sweet and merciful, rich in goodness to all that call upon you.”
May we too be strong in the conviction that, in spite of our sinfulness, God does not fear our sins but desires us to come close to Him so that our lives may be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we never forget the most worthy words in the book of Wisdom, that God gives sinners ample time for repentance!
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