Deacon Matt's Reflection

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time Reflections:

Wisdom 12:13, 16-19: In this thoughtful passage, the author serenely observes that our God has no need to prove that He is fair and just. God’s fairness and justice and mercy are so evident in God’s tender care for all and in God’s all-knowing attentiveness. The fact that the very hairs of our heads are numbered and that a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground and die without God’s knowing it ought to inspire us to recognize such intimate caring as loving concern. This same God; attentive to all of these things sacrificed His only-begotten Son for the Salvation of our souls. As the author contemplates, our God is rich in mercy and forgiveness for all of His created ones. God is quick to forgive and slow to condemn. Trust in God, but fear Him out of reverence!

Psalm 86: “Lord, You are good and forgiving.” We continue our focus on our merciful God with this psalm; a testament of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating God’s mercy, kindness and attentiveness. In the second verse, the author prophecies and celebrates that all nations will be converted to worshiping the Lord; magnifying God’s glory and extending the Kingdom of God. In the third verse, the psalmist is approaching God with reverence and awe; accompanied by an abiding trust in God’s compassion, kindness and mercy, as was proclaimed in our first Scripture reading this weekend.

Let’s take time this week to discern whether we fully allow ourselves to trust in God’s mercy, love, power and attentiveness to all of our needs and challenges. When I find myself worrying excessively about the current status of affairs in the world, I “change course,” spiritually, to fix on God’s almighty power, wisdom and love. Then, I return to the serene peace and trust in God that I desire for always.

Romans 8:26-27: This very short passage is so full of Wisdom and Truth! St. Paul gently confronts us with the fact that we work too hard, when we pray! We try to recite our “shopping list” of concerns… as if our all-knowing God doesn’t already know what we need, before we even ask Him. (Do you recall that Jesus already told us that?) A very simple suggestion is to pray, by merely asking the Holy Spirit to pray within you, for we know not how to pray as we ought. God knows what we need. We could pray effectively, just by saying: “Jesus, I trust in You,” or “God, I need You. May Your Most Holy and Perfect Will be done… unto me… and by me… now and forever. Amen.” Short, sweet and admirably to the point!

Mt 13:24-43: Just to reinforce our established theme this week of trusting in God; despite evil and challenges all around us and even within us, Jesus offers such grace-filled Words of encouragement. Jesus teaches us that God has a plan. Do not worry. The “weeds,” (the evil ones), will be removed, in God’s own time. We just need to trust God’s timing. God’s desire is for all to be saved; so, as we know… our God doesn’t hurry to condemn. We can be thankful for that, for many of us would be condemned if our God weren’t so merciful and loving!
God is patient, kind and merciful. Contemplate this week that we’re called to be loving, kind, patient and merciful, as well. Let’s meditate on whom we’re called to forgive. Doing so begins with our praying to be filled with compassion and mercy. God will not refuse.

Trustingly,
Deacon Matt