Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

P. Ramón LOYOLA Paternina LC(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Christ. Always, Christ. From Him we come; from Him come all the good seeds sown in our life. The “Kempis” says that God visits us with consolation and desolation, with sweet and bitter taste, with flower and thorn, with cold and heat, with beauty and suffering, with joy and sadness, with courage and fear… because everything has been redeemed in Christ (He too was afraid and overcame it). Saint Paul also tells us, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God ” (Rom 8:28).

All of this is fine, but… there is a mystery of iniquity that does not come from God and that surpasses us and devastates the Church, God’s Garden. And we would like God to be “somewhat” more powerful, to be more present, that He would be more demanding and would not let these distressing forces in: “Do you want us to go and pull them up [the weeds]?” (Mt 13:28).

Pope Saint John Paul II said this in his book Memory and Identity: “We patiently suffer the mercy of God”, who waits until the last moment to offer salvation to all souls, especially the most in need of His mercy: “Let them grow together until harvest” Mt 13:30. And as He is the Lord of our lives and of all mankind, He moves the threads of our existences while respecting our freedom. And along with our afflictions, we are supplied with overabundant grace to overcome them, to sanctify ourselves, to go towards Him, to be a permanent offering, to grow the Kingdom.

Christ, the divine pedagogue, introduces us to His school of life through each encounter, each event. He comes our way; He tells us — Take courage, I have conquered the world. I am with you always, until the end of the age (cf. Jn 16:33; Mt 28:20). He also tells us: —Do not judge; rather —like me— wait, trust, pray for those who err, sanctify them as members who interest you greatly because they are of your own body.

Thoughts on Today’s Gospel

• “For it is Christ who gives the yeast that virtue. Therefore, let no one complain about their smallness, for the dynamism of preaching is enormous, and what has once fermented becomes ferment for others” (St. John Chrysostom)
• “Evil does not have the first nor the last word. In facing weeds in the world the Lord’s disciple is called to imitate the patience of God, to nourish hope with the support of indestructible trust in the final victory of good, that is, of God.” (Francis)
• “The Church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.” All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, N. 827)