e-good news issue 7

8/6/2019 e-Good News issue 7

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e-Good News

The Gospel of MatthewIssue

7/

July

/2011

The Word of God still has the capacityto teach us something today

During July we reconnect with the

Gospel of Matthew. We interrupted

our reading of the Gospel around

the time of the Sermon on the

Mount. This section is closely

followed by Jesus instruction to the

disciples about their mission and theproclamation of the Kingdom in his

name. Parables were used by Jesus as

a method of enriching his teaching.

Many of the Gospels this month give

us an insight in to the core message

of Jesus the teacher. The Word of

God has the capacity to teach us

something today. The mystery of

how it can speak to us lies in the

reality that it is still good news. This

month therefore, we are invited not

just to read and respond to the

Word of God, but to hear and listento the voice of God that speaks to us

individually.


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Prayer

Sunday 3rd JulyMatthew 11: 25-30

pointers for Prayer

Human beings are always setting up barriers which divide peopleinto those who are important and those who are not. It happensin every community and Jesus met it among the Jewish people ohis time. God wants us to experience that we are his children andhave a unique contribution to make to our community. Perhaps

you can recall someone whom you did not think well o but whoturned out to be very good in some sphere. What good news that

you were wrong!

Intelligence alone is not sufcient to develop a relationship withGod. We need an open childlike capacity to wonder. Does thisresonate with your experience?

The ministry o Jesus introduced people to a relationshipo intimacy with God. How has Jesus given you that kind orelationship?

Another aspect o the ministry o Jesus was to ree peoplerom the burden o a legalistic understanding o religion, and tointroduce them to a aith marked by reedom and love. Perhaps

you have made that journey also. Who has been a Jesus person oryou and helped you to fnd reedom, joy and rest in your aith?

1Sunday ReectionFamily language is often used for Jesus followers brothersand sisters, little ones, children and, here, infant.

The reversal of human expectations or criteria is found widelyin the New Testament.

This is the verse which most resembles Johns Gospel.If it goes back to the historical Jesus - and it may very well -it signals an important moment in his own developingself-awareness. The word apocalypse is used here literally,i.e. unveiling or revelation.

This verse has had enormous appeal in the spiritual tradition,

understandably.Jesus echoes rabbinic tradition here, with the added nuancesthat his teaching is less scrupulous but existentially morechallenging.

Easy/light because he had made it so for us.

Read the Gospel either from yourmissal or from your Bible

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FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,

by whose gracious will

the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed

to the childlike,make us learn from your Son humility of heart,

that in shouldering his yoke

we may nd refreshment and rest.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Sunday 10th JulyMatthew 13: 1-23

GOD OF THE HEAVENS,

God of the earth,

all creation awaits your gift of new life.

Prepare our heartsto receive the word of your Son,

that his gospel may grow within us

and yield a harvest that is a hundredfold.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,



Amen.

Sunday ReectionThe Palestinian context would lend tremendous force tothese images.

In spite of everything, the kingdom will ourish to an amazingdegree.

Given that we all have ears, this means every one!

To them is quite revealing - already a them/us setting ispresumed.

An offensive text, on the surface. In the immediate context, itmeans that those already open can receive the word, but thosewhose hearts are closed cannot.

The Greek is difcult. The text could be purpose (in order that) orconsequence (with the result that).

Aimed directly at the Matthean community.

Matthew takes up the language of hearing, echoing the endingof the original parable.

The issue here is not understanding.

Why the reverse order? A hundredfold yield is possible butextraordinary. Perhaps Matthew wants the more ordinaryexperience to be the climax?

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

Jesus uses parables to make people think about their ownresponses to his message. As you read this parable you mayrecognize that at dierent times you have been like each o thedierent types o soil. As you recall times when you presentedertile soil or the Word o God, what helped you create thatreceptive atmosphere? What lessons or lie do you get rom that?

Parents with children, teachers with pupils, speakers with listeners,are all like sowers in a feld where the preparation o the soil is upto another - the child, pupil or listener. They can sow the seed butcannot guarantee that it will bear ruit. At times there may be atemptation not to try any more. The challenge is to sow in hope.

When have you been surprised by the harvest you have reaped?We are wasting our time here may sometimes be the apparentwisdom in a group. Have there been times when you have goneagainst this apparent wisdom and seen your eorts bear ruit?

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Prayer


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POINTERS FOR PRAYER

The owner o the feld who allowed the wheat and the darnelto grow together is a reminder to us to be patient withourselves and with others when we see everything is not right.Sometimes a preoccupation with the negative (the darnel) canblind us to seeing the positive in our own lives and in the liveso others. When have you ound that a willingness to live withthe messiness o the present created the conditions or uturegrowth?

Have you ever ound that it was through accepting the darnelthat you learned important lessons or lie, e.g., learning bymaking mistakes, or asking stupid questions, or taking oolish

risks?

The parables o the mustard seed and the leaven are remindersthat seemingly insignifcant things can have very positive results.Have you ever been surprised by the beneft to yoursel or otherso a kind gesture, a small initiative, or a word o encouragement?

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Sunday ReectionThe parable, unlike Jesus own parables, is not particularlydisturbing - it doesnt challenge common sense. It does, inthe form of the allegory, teach moral attitudes and practicalapproaches. There is, perhaps, a discreet critique of thecommunity members who are quick to evaluate others. It isnot really your business! Cf. Romans 14:1-4, which puts it verysuccinctly indeed.

The parable of the mustard seed is offered without comment.It does bring together, however, the issues of the precedingparable (expansion and hospitality). Even though the expansion

of the church can bring with it a lowering of commitment,nevertheless, hospitality remains the hallmark of the kingdom.

Even this parable takes up issues raised in the rst one:yeast takes time and we have to allow the time for thetransformation to take place. And yet, yeast has its own powerand inevitability. Likewise the kingdom - do not give up toosoon on others, or even on yourself!

This rather hopeful read of the function of the parables is intensions with a similar passage between the parable of thesower and its allegorical interpretation. At least here, Jesus

speaks in order that they will understand!


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O GOD, PATIENT AND FORBEARING,

you alone know fully

the goodness of what you have made.

Strengthen our spirit when we are slowand temper our zeal when we are rash,

that in your own good time

you may produce in us a rich harvest

from the seed you have sown and tended.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,



Amen.

Prayer

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Sunday ReectionThe nder is like someone who has come across something,which is worth everything to be read in the light of the costof discipleship.

A metaphor closely related to the previous one.

The one, supreme gem is worth simply everything. To help tounderstand this parable, it needs to be read in light of the costof discipleship.

This is a different kind of parable with a different purpose:putting up with the imperfect in the community.

Sorting is a feature of the allegorical parables in Matthew

13 and 19.

Angels (a euphemism for God) do the sifting at the end.

This quotes Daniel 3:6 and appends Matthews dental metaphor.

Matthew, in contrast to Mark, shows the disciples coming tosome clear understanding. Matthew 13:11, 16, 23.

He then describes himself, really, as the perfect scribe, combiningold and new (Matthew 5:17-20 and 9:16-17). See the portrait ofthe ideal scribe in Sirach 39.

Just as has powerful force in this Gospel. It means morethan a formal parallel. Rather, the life from the Father passes

through the Son to all who believe in him.

44POINTERS FOR PRAYER

Have you ever ound yoursel saying that was worth it atergiving up something (time, pleasure, money, etc.)? What wasthe treasure that made the sacrifce worthwhile?

The kingdom o heaven is when God is really the ruler inour lie. What treasures have you obtained when you allowGod to be at the centre o your lie?

In lie we gather a lot o things, some good and somebad. The wise person in the kingdom o heaven, knowshow to sit down and make decisions on what to keep and

what to discard. When have you undertaken that kind odiscernment? What have you discarded? What have youretained?

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Prayer


GOD OF ETERNAL WISDOM,

you alone impart the gift of right judgement.Grant us understanding,

that we may value wisely

the treasure of your kingdom

and gladly forgo all lesser gifts

to possess that kingdoms incomparable joy.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,


God for ever and ever.Amen.

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Sunday 31st JulyMatthew 14: 13-21

Sunday ReectionThe absurd death of John the Baptist has just been recounted.Jesus needs time to reect.

Compassion a word used only of God, Jesus, the GoodSamaritan and the Father of the Prodigal son. It carries a specialmeaning of deeply felt, natural fellow feeling and pity.

The preaching day is over; the practical aspects needattention too.

A direct and apparently unreasonable challenge to the disciples.

The meager quantity may be contrasted at the end with thenumbers fed.

Jesus takes charge.

The language is consciously echoing the Lords Supper atthis point.

Echoing the feeding in the Moses tradition. The leftovers aregreater than the ingredients.

The symbolic number is nally expressed.

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

The news o the death o John the Baptist prompted Jesusto go o to be alone, but the crowds ollowed him. Despitehis personal sorrow he was able to reach out in compassionto the crowd. Perhaps there have been times when you haveput personal preerences and desires to one side in orderto reach out to another. What was it like or you when youwere able to do this?

When Jesus saw the crowd, he recognized their need andreached out to them. Who has been a Jesus person or you,someone who recognized your need and reached out to

you? For whom have you been a Jesus person?

The scene is a Eucharistic symbol reminding us o thesacred meal to which all believers are invited to receivenourishment rom the Lord. How has the Eucharist beena source o nourishment or you?

When the disciples became aware o the problem theywanted to send the crowd away but Jesus told them Yougive them something to eat. They thought what they hadwas insufcient but Jesus used the little they had to eedthe crowd. When we give the little we have to a situationthe results are oten beyond our expectations. Have you

had this experience?Lord, it is an extraordinary thing: i we complain about thelittle we have, we never have enough; but i we take whatwe have, raise our eyes to heaven, and say the blessing overit, we have as much as we want, and even twelve baskets oscraps o let over. Michel de Verteuil

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Prayer


BOUNTIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE GOD,you place in the hands of your disciples

the food of life.

Nourish us at your holy table,

that we may bear Christ to others

and share with them

the gifts we have so richly received.

We make our prayer through our Lord JesusChrist, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity ofthe Holy Spirit,


Amen.

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Refections by Dr. Kieran J. OMahony OSA and community in Orlagh.

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