Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The Book of Exodus provides the first reading for Mass this weekend. In ancient Jewish tradition, Exodus came from Moses. Therefore, in a most special way, it is the very word of God, since Moses represented God and was the link between God and the chosen people.
Through Moses, God gave directions for every aspect of the lives of the Hebrews. This weekend’s reading from Exodus addresses several specific realities in life, such as the lending of money and treatment of others.
Every person has the right to be respected and treated justly. No one can be exploited or mistreated, including strangers and even enemies.
Respecting each person is the basic principle, founded on the notion of God as Creator and final governor of human lives. God, as the Creator of all, conferred upon each person a dignity that cannot be diminished or denied.
For the second reading, the Church presents a reading from St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians. In this passage, Paul reminds the Christians of Thessalonica that their faith has had its impact, and for the better. They turned away from idolatry to accept the Gospel. It was a good decision.
Obey God, without exception, compromise or qualification. Following Jesus brings joy, the Apostle insists.
Bearing witness to Christ, which we call evangelization today, is a reward and an opportunity for Christians. Paul urged the Christians in Thessalonica to be models of evangelization for other disciples of the region.
St. Matthew’s Gospel provides the last reading. It is a familiar and beloved text.
Often seen as an effort to trick Jesus, the question of the Pharisees in this story may have had a more pragmatic purpose. The Pharisees were teachers, often instructing others about the law of Moses and calling them to obey this law. Reducing any teaching to a summary is always a good educational technique.
(Even so, good will cannot be assumed without any other possibility. After all, many Pharisees disliked Jesus and would have liked to discredit the Lord’s message if possible.)
The Lord’s reply in this exchange was crisp but profound. Recalling this weekend’s first reading from Exodus, Jesus hardly departed from, let alone repudiated, Jewish religious tradition that originated in divine revelation, guidance given the people by God.
Christ went directly to the point. God is supreme. The true disciple must reach every decision with the standard of love for God, uncompromised and absolute, first in their minds and love for others. Given human nature, herein lies the struggle. True discipleship means active respect for every other person since every human being is God’s treasured creation, made in his image and likeness.
Reflection
These readings were chosen for Catholics worldwide, with the modern age in mind, but they recall a reality since the first days of the Church.
Genuine Christianity is more than an intellectual assent to certain theological propositions. While the creed of the Church is vital, Christianity means a way of life and a state of mind, founded upon a heartfelt, personal recognition of God’s supremacy.
Inescapably, it requires loving others as God loves them, truly, concretely and caring for them, always resisting any effort to belittle or exploit others, and always suppressing selfishness.
It is a tall order at any time, but especially important today, in this world in which so many are used and abused, indeed even in so-called advanced and free societies.
Even well-informed people in advanced human societies can be very guilty in offenses committed against God and against vulnerable people.
A world without Jesus is dark and cold.
Genuine disciples, by witness, outreach and the help of God’s grace, brighten and warm their environments and create of themselves models of the Lord by appreciating, displaying and promoting God’s love for all. †