Seeking deeper knowledge of God’s word

 

We deepen our knowledge aside the people.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, August 1st, 2023
Texts: 33:7-11; 34:5-9.28; Psalm 103; Matthew 13:36-43 

The message, today, is about seeking deeper knowledge of God’s word. We attain such knowledge through exclusive encounter with God. We see such exclusive encounter between Jesus and the apostles in today’s gospel passage. We read, “Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’" They met Jesus for further knowledge after leaving the crowds. We do not attain deeper knowledge of God’s among the crowds. We deepen our knowledge aside the people. 

Deeper knowledge of God’s word is attained through one-on-one relationship with God. The deeper knowledge is the knowledge we gain through one-on-one relationship. Today’s first reading affirms it. We read, “Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting. And every one who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.” Such encounter took place aside other people; it is on one-on-one basis.  

The meaning of the parable of the wheat and weeds

Jesus Christ told the apostles the meaning of the parable of the wheat and weeds during exclusive encounter. In the first reading God revealed Himself to Moses during one-on-one encounter. We read, “The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness ...’”. We encounter God personally when we prayerfully study Bible alone with God and meditate on God’s words. Retreat and  contemplative prayer are ways of having exclusive encounter with God.  

Alphonsus de Liguori, whose memorial is today, was a Bishop. He advocated a dignified celebration of Holy Mass. As a priest he established an order of missionary called Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). The group suffer division during the lifetime of Alphonsus. Alphonsus’ attempt to restore peace among them failed. They got over it after his death. “Alphonsus lived an exceptionally holy life. He was also an outstanding moral theologian, and won back sinners to the fold by patience and moderation” (Universalis). He left us example of holy life.  

Prayer 

O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new examples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven. Amen  
Happy New Month!!! May God bless the month of August for you. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke