Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 16th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 27th July, 2020
Texts: Jer. 13:1-11; Ps. Deut. 32:18:-21; Matt. 13:31-35
Today's first reading and the gospel used parable to pass across spiritual truth. Using parable to reveal the secrets of the kingdom of God shows that knowing the truth of the kingdom requires search for meaning. The secrets of the kingdom of God are spiritual truths and to make them intelligible they are put in parables. Put differently, parable makes spiritual truths intelligible. The truth must be searched for in the parable. Hence, God says, through the prophet, "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world". Today's Gospel says of Jesus thus: "All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable". Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy, and this shows that he is God among us.
In the first reading, God used parable to express how closely he has bound us to himself and how we have spoilt the relationship. God wants us to be for him a people, a name, a praise and a glory but we often slight and ignore him. We are a people to God when we listen to him and share from his life. To be a glory for him means to reflect his glory in our lives, that is, to be instruments of his love, mercy, justice and goodness in the world. When we become a glory for him, we also become a praise for him; when we reflect his glory in our lives, people give him praise and honour. When people come to know God through us, we become a name for him. God wants us to manifest his kingdom on earth by being a people, a glory, a name and a praise for him.
Jesus, in the gospel, used two parables to express the truth of the kingdom. The first parable shows that the kingdom of God grows and become attractive to the evil ones who come and take shelter in it. This reminds us that there are wolves among us and so we have to be wise and vigilant. The second parable reminds us that the kingdom grows by God's own grace. Hence, to be a people, a glory and praise for him, we need his grace. It is by God's grace that we are able to carry out good deeds: justice, mercy, love etc. If we cut off our relationship with him, we become like the spoilt waistcloth, good for nothing.
Lord our God, enlighten our minds that we might grow in knowledge of your kingdom. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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