By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Responsorial: Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27; Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
The Book of Wisdom here speaks directly to God, praising his justice. God has “the care of all” and has “mastery over all things.” Consequently, God has no obligation to show that he has “not unjustly condemned” anyone. Each human person exists only due to God’s undeserved gift. God is “lenient to all,” and he judges “with clemency.”
The final verse says: “And you taught your people, by these deeds, that (the righteous person) must be kind.” This refers to God’s instruction of the people of Israel. God’s mighty deeds showed both justice and love for the people he chose for his own. This passage concludes that we must model our actions on God’s actions. We must be lenient and just toward others because God has been lenient and just toward us. Too often we fail to live according to God’s goodness. This gives another reason for the author to praise God: “you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.”
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8 describes “life in the Spirit” for Christ’s disciples. Paul writes: “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought.” Paul says that the Spirit “intercedes” for us before God “with inexpressible groanings.” In prayer, we ask for God’s aid. Since we are baptized in Christ’s name, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. The Spirit is a gift of God’s presence dwelling within us. Paul describes here how the Spirit speaks on our behalf — praying for us, advocating for our needs before God.
In our human weakness, we have limited capacity to understand the Spirit’s “groanings” on our behalf. But the Spirit knows what we need far better than we do. God is “the one who searches hearts.” God will respond to “the intention of the Spirit” who advocates for us. Indeed “the Advocate” is one of the names that Jesus gives to the Spirit in the Gospel of John chapters 14-16.
The Responsorial is Psalm 86. Verse 5 is used as the refrain: “Lord, you are good and forgiving.” The following lines give evidence to support this statement. The psalmist praises God for his responsiveness to prayer and pleading. God shows his goodness and “kindness to all who call upon you.” Kindness translates the Hebrew word “hesed,” which primarily describes the Lord God’s commitment to the people of Israel. With them he formed a covenantal relationship. God abounds in his loving commitment to his people. This is especially true for us who have been adopted as God’s sons and daughters through salvation in Christ Jesus.
The second stanza prophesies that all the nations will come to worship the Lord God. This has been realized in Jesus, who has redeemed all of humanity by his cross and resurrection. Through God’s covenant with Israel, God prepared for a new covenant in Christ, offered to every human person. Indeed “all the nations” now “glorify your name,” O God. The final stanza again praises God, and then pleads: “Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant.”
Jesus tells three parables about seeds in chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel. First, in 13:1-9, Jesus tells the crowds “the Parable of the Sower.” The sower sows seed everywhere. The seed sown on rich soil produces abundant fruit, but the seed that falls elsewhere does not.
Afterwards, Jesus’ disciples ask: “Why do you speak to them in parables?” So Jesus explains his parable privately to his disciples. He says that the seed is “the word of the kingdom” of God. This is what Jesus speaks. Jesus explains that many things keep the word of God from bearing fruit in people’s lives. These obstacles include lack of understanding, tribulation, worldly anxiety and the lure of riches (13:18-22). Jesus’ miraculous healings drew large crowds, but most were not ready to allow Jesus’ words to truly transform their lives.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells two more parables with “seed” imagery. First Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to “a man who sowed good seed in his field.” But an enemy sows weeds throughout the wheat. Jesus explains this parable also: “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil” (13:37-39).
The kingdom of heaven is opposed by evil. In Jesus’ parable, the wheat and weeds are allowed to grow together now, but they will be separated at the time of harvest. Jesus explains that the harvest is God’s judgment, which occurs “at the end of the age.” We await this with hope. But for now, God allows sin and evildoers to co-exist with his children who belong to the kingdom of heaven.
In the New Testament, harvest imagery usually refers to Christ’s second coming — when the kingdom of heaven will come in its fullness — new heavens, a new earth. We need to patiently await the day of God’s salvation although we do not know when it will come.
Next, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed which “is the smallest of all the seeds.” Jesus contrasts the smallness of the seed with the largeness of the mustard plant when it has grown. From this, we conclude that the kingdom of God, like a small seed, might not be seen or noticed at first. But over time, the kingdom of God comes in its fullness.
Jesus develops this parable imagery. He describes “the birds of the sky” dwelling in the “large branches” and “shade” of the mustard plant. This indicates that many people will find a home in the kingdom of God. Some commentaries suggest this specifically refers to the Gentiles because, like migrating birds, believers in Christ Jesus will come from every corner of the earth.