The Sunday Word by Wansbrough Henry;

Author:Wansbrough, Henry;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2011-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

Second reading: Creation Freed from Corruption (Romans 8.18-23)

In our reading of Romans 8 on life in the Spirit of the Risen Christ, we have missed out (they are used on a separate occasion) a few crucial verses on our adoption as sons, enabling us – both men and women – to call God ‘Abba, Father’. This intimate Aramaic family name, used by Jesus to his Father in his agonized prayer in the Garden (Mark 14.36), can be used by all his followers who share his life. With Jesus, we are heirs of God, sharing his inheritance. Not only ourselves, however, but the whole of creation is renewed and re-created by the Spirit. It all takes on a new dimension and a new life, groaning in the Spirit to be released from frustration. This is a new reason for renewed human beings to care for God’s creation. In the first place, we were created in the image of God to further and to complete his creation. Now, re-created as adopted sons and heirs of God, our responsibility is increased and intensified. As yet, we have only the first fruits of the Spirit, but first fruits make sense and have their value only in view of the fullness and completion of the harvest.

Question: In what sense is creation groaning in the Spirit to be set free?

Gospel: The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13.1-23)

Like any good teacher, Jesus uses pictures – or parables. Ever heard the one about the elephant and the wasp? Or electricity like a toy train going round a room? Anyway, for the next three weeks we have some of these pictures, to show us what Jesus is trying to do. This first one is rather sad. Whatever he does seems to fail: seed pecked up by birds, scorched by the sum, choked by thistles. What are my pecking birds, my scorching sun, my choking thistles, which annihilate the seed Jesus sows in me? Different for every one of us. But some, just a little, of the seed bears a fantastic harvest. There must be something I can show to the Lord with pride and gratitude: ‘Look, this is the seed you gave me; it has grown, developed, and here is your harvest.’ Jesus, too, reflected on his mission to establish his Father’s sovereignty on earth. Jesus, too, got depressed and wondered if he was getting anywhere. It was only when he had failed utterly, alone, deserted and tortured, that his perseverance won the crown. Jesus doesn’t want the successful. He wants the failures as his followers – and that is where the harvest lies.

Question: Does this parable show Jesus optimistic or disappointed?

Sixteenth Sunday

First reading: The Leniency of God (Wisdom 12.13, 16-19)

The Book of Wisdom was written in Greek, shortly before the birth of Jesus, for the Greek-speaking Jews of Alexandria. Much of it concerns the harsh treatment of the Hebrews in Egypt before the Exodus under Moses. Here the author has moved on to describe luridly the depravity of the inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelites arrived in the Holy Land.

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