In today’s liturgy, we resume the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany. Congratulations to all of us for having a new President-elect Donald Trump. We have the responsibility to pray for him. I hope that we will be supporting him despite our different political affiliation. As Catholics, we must show respect to both civil authorities and ecclesiastical authorities. We are one nation under God, indivisible, which we truly honor and respect.
Let us try to set aside political bickering and seek for healing of our people, our country. When we encountered people holding signage that said, “In our candidate, we trust,” I feel that sign becomes uncomfortable for me and I need to process the heart’s discomfort. I think that it is also an obvious sign that people are expecting someone to restore our serious divides and are looking forward to a brighter future. However, I would like to put this into proper perspective that the only one that can truly provide our desire and hope for our country is no other than our Lord Jesus Christ, He has all the authority and power over us to live a life of contentment, happiness and peace.
The epistle today, taken from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians, exhorts all of us to “Put ye on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” St. Paul is invoking the metaphor of clothing, of garments. but it’s about spiritual qualities and values. Therefore, we should put on new clothes as God’s chosen ones. The new clothes is our own identity and dignity that through baptism, we died and we will rise again with Jesus as a new person, graced, blessed, loved and favored as God’s chosen ones. Just as He chose Israel out of various trials and difficulties, God continues to choose people that will belong to Him. He chooses people, not because of anything in that person, not because the person is smart or rich or powerful or charismatic, but God chooses based on His own sovereign choice. God plans for His beloved, and He sets His love upon you. St. Paul is saying, “Remember who you are, remember you are loved and therefore put on new clothes. You have a new identity.”
The mentioning of “bowels of mercy, benignity or kindness, humility, modesty and patience” refers to one’s feelings that you are easily moved by the needs of those around you, that you are compassionate, and that you are touched by the struggles of others. People in that time liked to describe emotions as being located in your bowels. When they felt worried or anxious of someone or something, they would say, “their bowels are churning…rolling or burning towards others’ needs and you want to help in their struggles. Thus, you esteem others more important than yourselves.”
The gospel today, taken from the evangelist Matthew, is about a parable shared by Jesus which expresses about the Kingdom of God. Let us reflect what profound lessons we can extract from this gospel pericope.
First, this parable reminds us of the existence of good and evil. When the wheat and the weeds grow together, good and evil exist side by side in the world. As we journey through life, we oftentimes encounter falsehoods and temptations to distract us in our spiritual journey. We need to master the art of discernment navigating this complex reality of evil, seeking the truth and striving to live out our faith in a world that is not always in conformity with the holy will of God.
Second, this parable teaches us to have that patience and trust in His divine providence. We heard that the landowner decides to allow both the wheat and the weeds to grow until the time is perfect for the harvest. This is the wisdom that calls us to exercise restraint and hold on to our quick impulse to do things that would jeopardize others. God knows the hearts of each of us and will ultimately bring justice according to His time. Thus, our task is to remain faithful, persevering in prayer, and being open to be moved by the fingers of God’s hands because He teaches us how to deal with the complexity of life.
Third, this parable encourages us to cultivate mercy and hope. Even though evil may seem prevalent, we follow the path of God who taught us the value of mercy and forgiveness, which is endless. The landowner patiently waited for the time of harvest to separate the wheat from the weeds. We get the message that God’s patience is His wisdom to share so that evil people may have that opportunity to change and be converted. We must stop making judgment of others or condemning them; instead, we must grant them forgiveness and pray for their conversion.
May we find strength and guidance in this parable, prompting us to reflect on our own spiritual maturity as followers of Jesus. Are we growing wheat within ourselves and fostering a vibrant relationship with God? Are we responsible to live virtuously and bear fruits of love, kindness, and compassion? Please do some soul searching to seek an answer whether our actions and choices influence, not only our own spiritual journey, but also the world in which we live. May we have the opportune time to pray that we will respond to God’s patience that affords us repentance and the ability to be transformed.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
