Truth about the Kingdom of Heaven

 

Kingdom of heaven is a journey towards perfection.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Monday of 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, July 31st, 2023 Texts: Exodus 32:15-24. 30-34; Ps 106:19-23; Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus Christ continues revealing the truth about the kingdom of heaven. We learn today that what Jesus tells us is the truth that has been hidden since the foundation of the world. We are privileged to hear it. Jesus tells us the truth so that we may walk not by faith alone but also by knowledge. If we walk by knowledge we will not go astray; we will walk on the right. It also helps us to know when we go astray. Even when we go astray, we will know the way back. Knowledge saves, for prophet Hosea says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (4:6). 

Today’s parables reveal to us how kingdom of heaven is fulfilled in us and in the world. The kingdom of heaven is both objective and subjective. It is subjective in the sense that it is fulfilled in each of us who has the seed of faith. It is objective in the sense that is fulfilled in the community in whose we share. We all share in the faith of a community, the church. 

God’s mercy heals our imperfections and flaws

Today’s parables reveal that the kingdom of heaven is a journey towards perfection. In the journey we experience imperfections and flaws. We see the imperfections and flaws in the community of God’s people and individuals. The wrath of Moses was a display of imperfections and flaws. His wrath made him break the tablet of God’s commandments. We also see imperfections and flaws in Aaron as he failed in his leadership and guidance. We also see imperfections and flaws in the community of God’s people as they abandoned God.  

God’s mercy heals our imperfections and flaws. Moses realised this and he went back to God to plead for mercy. We read, “The next day Moses said to the people, you have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’” Hence, we should not be despaired when we sin but repent and return to the Lord. Our imperfections and flaws should not be stumbling blocks on our way to the kingdom of heaven. God will always redeem us if we repent and return to Him. 

The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola 

Today is the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was a soldier who got converted after reading books about Christ and the saints. He read the books as he was recovering from wounds he incurred in a battlefield. After his conversion he lived life of contemplation and mission. He founded the society of Jesus to defend and propagate the faith. He reformed the Church by life of holiness, prayer, service and penance. He gave an example of how to reform the Church from within; a way of reform that does no damage to the Church.  

Prayer  

O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church to further the greater glory of your name, grant that by his help we may imitate him in fighting the good fight on earth and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke