Sunday, July 19, 2020

WORKING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS


 Reflection for 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Rm 8: 26-27; Mt 13:24-43)
1.0. Kingdom of Work
“Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous man must be kind, and you have filled your sons with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.” The Book of Wisdom talks about the righteous deeds with which God cares for all men and judges unjustly. Though sovereign, God works among His people, governing all with forbearance and mildness, judging justly and giving them chance to repent. Our meditation today captures this image of God who ‘works’, planting His kingdom of righteousness among us.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents three parables to illustrate how the Kingdom of God grows among us. Each of the parables uses the imagery of serious labour to convey its message. In the first He says, “The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field...” Here God is positioned as a ‘Farmer’, which involves serious work. The same goes with the sowing of the mustard seed and the kneading of the leaven with the flour. “My Father still goes on working, and I am at work, too” (Jn 5:17). In the same way, we must be dedicated people, committed to the task ahead, working out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). It takes persistence and time to build up a moral and righteous life. If you have placed your hand on the plough the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, there is no looking back! This is how we can bear fruits for the Kingdom.

2.0. Fruit for the Kingdom
In the first parable, the seeds of the Kingdom were left to grow among the seeds of the evil one. The reason for this is that none of His righteous ones may be lost while still growing. But all will be allowed to grow to full maturity for the harvest. Then, the good ones shall be separated from the evil ones by their fruits! The Angels will gather those who produced fruits into the heavenly barn, and burn the rest.

What exactly is this fruit? The parable of the mustard seed gives us the idea. The righteousness of the Kingdom planted might be insignificant, almost unnoticed! But it grows to become a big tree that exists not just for itself, but is recognized for providing shelter to birds of the air! Imagine the great act of mercy and charity that the tree stands for, always available to all who come under its shade. The same applies to the little leaven mixed with the flour. It enriches the flour, and provides delicious meal to the hungry. The good works we do for the Kingdom of Heaven must shine before people to the glory of God (cf. Mt 5:16). There is no room for selfishness for the Children of the Kingdom.

God is still working in our lives; the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. The seeds of the evil one may want to dominate us, “But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” And Jesus continues to nourish us in the Holy Eucharist. The holy Catholic Church is rich with numerous channels of grace to sustain us to bear fruit for the Kingdom. We cannot grow to full maturity and bear fruits of holiness if we do not apply the graces given us through openness to the Holy Spirit, prayer and the Sacraments. Let us be committed to the work God has started in us to produce mercy, charity, patient-endurance, humility, etc. It is on the Cross that God's great work to sow His Kingdom in our lives shines out.  Finally, Jesus said, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” Amen!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday July 19th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com  


1 comment:

  1. I really like this 'there is no room of selfishness for the children of God's while the righteous ones will shine in the kingdom of the Father Almighty. Nice one Fr

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