A JESUIT'S BLOG
Friday 26 July 2024
Saturday, July 27, 2024 - Are there some whom you deliberately exclude from your circle of friends? Why?
To read the texts click on the texts: Jeremiah 7:1-11; Mt 13:24-30
This is a parable found exclusively in
the Gospel of Matthew. It is not clear whether this parable existed
independently as a parable or whether it was conceived as an allegory from the
beginning. Those who think that the parable existed independently interpret the
parable to mean a statement against building of boundaries and so excluding
some. The building of boundaries and forming exclusive communities is not the
business of human beings, but is God’s task.
Like the field in the parable there is
good seed and there are weeds even in the world in which we live. There is both
good and evil. We are called to take only what is good and not focus too much
on the evil or bad. This does not mean passivity in the face of evil but a call
for a discerning mind and heart.
Thursday 25 July 2024
Friday, July 26, 2024 - What prevents you from listening to what God is calling you to do? What will you do about it today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Jeremiah 3:14-17; Mt 13:18-23
These verses contain what is known as
the allegory of the parable of 13,10-17. Unlike Mark who does not give it
a name, Matthew names it the Parable of the Sower (13,18), and in doing so
concentrates attention on the Sower. While in the Marcan interpretation there
is confusion as to whether the seed is the word (as in Mark 4,14) or the
hearers (as in Mark 4,16. 18.20), Matthew rewrites Mark to avoid this confusion
but does not succeed fully in this endeavour. Matthew also specifies that the
word that is sown is the word of the kingdom. While in Mark collective nouns
are used focussing on a group of people, Matthew emphasises individual
responsibility by changing the nouns to the singular. Despite these changes,
Matthew essentially adopts the interpretation of the Parable as in Mark 4,13-20
where it is understood as the Church’s reflection on its bearing witness to the
Gospel that Christ inaugurated.
Christianity is both an individual and
communitarian religion. Each sacrament has both the individual and
communitarian dimensions. This means that while on the one hand we are each
responsible for the other, we are also responsible for ourselves and need to
make our commitment individually. We cannot disown this responsibility or
thrust it on the community.
Wednesday 24 July 2024
Thursday, July 25, 2024 - St. James, Apostle - Will you like St. James drink your cup courageously no matter what the consequences?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Cor 4:7-15; Mt. 20:20-28
St. James is described as
one of the first disciples along with his brother John to join Jesus (Mk
1:19-20). He was one of the three whom Jesus took with him when he raised
Jairus daughter from the dead (Mk 5:35-43), on the mountain of transfiguration
(Mk 9:2-9) and at Gethsemane (Mk 14:32-42). The Acts of the Apostles 12:1
records that Herod had James executed by sword. He is the only apostle whose
martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament.
The Gospel text chosen
for the feast of St. James is from the Gospel of Matthew. In order to spare the disciples, whom Matthew
usually represents as understanding, Matthew replaces the disciples’ own
request with one represented by their mother and does not name the “sons of
Zebedee” here. The request for seats at the “right hand and left hand” reflects
the rule of the Son of Man from his throne. In his reply to the request the
Matthean Jesus focuses on the image of the cup which is used as a symbol for suffering,
testing, rejection, judgement and even violent death. Though they express
confidence that they are able to drink the cup, Jesus knows better. However,
even martyrdom will not gain the disciples special places. That is God’s
prerogative and grace. Jesus then takes the disciples to another level and
perspective of leadership where to be a leader is not to dominate or dictate
but to serve. Christian leadership may be defined as service
James understood this
after the death and resurrection of Jesus as was evident in his martyrdom. He
followed his Lord and Master to the end and did indeed drink the cup
courageously.
Tuesday 23 July 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 0 Will you keep on keeping on even when your expectations are not fulfilled?
To read the texts click on the texts: Jer 1:1,4-10; Mt 13:1-9
W begin reading today from Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew. This Chapter is known as “The Parable Discourse” of Matthew, because in it we find seven parables. Two of these parables have been allegorised {The Parable of the Sower (13,18-23) and the parable of the Weeds and the Wheat (13,36-43)}. Some are of the opinion that 13,49-50 is an allegorization of the parable of the Net (13,47-48). The first parable in the Parable Discourse is the one that is known as the parable of the Sower. Though often it is the allegory that has been interpreted instead of the parable where the different types of soil are compared to different types of persons and their reception of the word, this does not seem to be the point of the parable. In the parable, in three types of soil (the path, the rocky ground and among the thorns), the seed is lost, and it is only in one type of soil (good soil) that there is gain. Yet, the gain is enormous. The point seems to be that one must not give in to despair even if it seems that most of the good that we do seems to bear no fruit. In God’s time and in God’s own way it will bear even more fruit than we can ever imagine. We need to keep on keeping on.
In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, when we work, we must work as if everything depends only on us and when we pray, we must pray as if everything depends only on God.Monday 22 July 2024
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - Is Jesus pointing to you as his brother/sister? If yes, Why? If no, why not?
To read the texts click on the texts: Micah 7:14-15,18-20; Mt 12:46-50
The text of today contains a pointer as
to who make up the true family of Jesus. Unlike in Mark, where the “crowd” is
pointed out to as the true family of Jesus, in Matthew, it is the community of
disciples who make up the true family. The point being made in this text is not
so much about the mother or brothers and sisters of Jesus, but about who will
be regarded as true members of Jesus’ family. The action of stretching out his
hand has been used earlier to portray Jesus as compassionate (8,3) and also an
act, which will be used later to show him as the great deliverer who comes to
the aid of his disciples (14,31). In the concluding statement, the Matthean
Jesus makes clear that discipleship and being a member of his family is not
merely a matter of verbal profession even proclamation, but doing the will of
God. This aspect makes anyone a brother or sister of Jesus.
We may imagine that because we have been
baptised into the faith we can take for granted that we are members of Jesus’
family. This need not be so, since we need to keep renewing our commitment to
Jesus and his cause every day. While verbal proclamation does have its place,
it alone is not enough. We must show through our deeds whom we believe in.