July 22/23 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary time

Matthew 13:24-43 Whoever has ears ought to hear. (Matthew 13:43) Does Jesus’ explanation of today’s parable make you uncomfortable? Especially His image of God sending His angels to toss the “children of the evil one” into a “fiery furnance” (Matthew 13:38, 42)? If a loving human father would never treat his children that way, how could God, our heavenly Father, do such a thing? If you find this story troubling, it might help to know you’re in good company. Even the ancient Fathers of the Church were divided on how to interpret it. In the third century, Origen of Alexandria taught that these “children of the evil one” were not individual people (Matthew 13:38). Rather, they were the “evil opinions” that the devil sows in our souls. (Commentary on Matthew, 10.2).He said that God wants to burn these sinful thoughts and attitudes out of all people so that they can enter eternal life. On the other hand, St. John Chrysostom, writing about a hundred years later, said that the “children of the evil one” were indeed sinners. These, Chrysostom said, would be “given over to punishment,” and a “severe” punishment at that. Meanwhile, the righteous would “depart into the kindom of heaven” (On Matthew, Homily 47). You may favor Origen’s view or Chrysostom’s, but both men make one thing clear: sin is serious. It burdens us. It darkens our minds and poisons our hearts. It keeps us from loving each other and receiving God’s love. But they both also taught that Jesus offers us the only way to escape its grasp: His cross and resurrection. Jesus ended His parable with a warning: “Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Mattew 13:43). Let’s do just that. Let’s take His words to heart. Let’s believe that His grace is powerful enough to save us from sin. Let’s trust that He can make us “shine like the sun” (13:43). “Jesus, give me ears to hear You as You call me out of sin and into Your Kindgom.” Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 Romans 8:26-27