JANUARY 30, 2019
4:30 PM, 6:00 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
It’s always a bit of a challenge to preach on a Gospel passage where following a lengthy parable – a wisdom story, of sorts – Our Lord, Himself, provides an explanation to His disciples. The preacher gets left holding the bag trying to explain the explanation of the Son of God – the Word made flesh – as if Jesus didn’t do it well enough Himself.
Indeed, Jesus Christ is always a hard act to follow.
But there is a bit of an ‘exit strategy’ in todays readings; since they quote from a variety of sources.
In His explanation of the Parable of the Sower, Jesus quotes the Prophet Isaiah – specifically Isaiah chapter 6 verses 9 and 10. In answering the question: What’s up with all the parables? Jesus says:
The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.But to those outside everything comes in parables, so thatthey may look and see but not perceive,and hear and listen but not understand,in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.This certainly sounds “exclusive.” Which begs the question, has Jesus gone “rogue” and is now looking to build a wall to keep people out? Next thing you know, he’s going to do something crazy like:
… drive out those selling and buying [in the Temple, and] overturn … the tables of the money changers …But seriously. Let’s dig a little deeper.
The quote from Isaiah immediately follows the prophet’s call. Isaiah describes a vision of the throne room of Almighty God, surrounded by six-winged seraphim, who are crying out “Holy, holy, holy!” The door frame shakes, and the place fills with smoke … and Isaiah freaks out. He figures he’s going to die because he’s seen God … and that’s what’s supposed to happen to you when you see God. You die.
But God meets him halfway. He sends a seraphim with an ember from the altar … touches Isaiah’s lips, and “[his] wickedness is removed, [and his] sin is purged.”
And then God gives Isaiah a prophetic message for the people:
Listen carefully, but do not understand!Look intently, but do not perceive!… Lest [your] heart understandand [you] turn and be healed.In other words, this is hardly exclusive – it’s a warning to repent.
Isaiah is confronting a corrupt and self-assured people. They have no time for prophets. And they have no interest in messages from God.
“The mystery of the Kingdom of God” which Jesus wraps in parables and stories is certainly not difficult to understand. John 3:16 tells us:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.Ten chapters later in John’s Gospel, Jesus quotes this same section of Isaiah … right before He washes the disciples feet at the Last Supper.
And Peter, quick to jump to conclusions, refuses.
It’s Peter who pushes Jesus away. It’s Peter who puts up the wall. And it’s Peter who doesn’t want to come inside.
And is it any different for any one of us?
The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
Look and perceive. Hear and understand.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent. And believe in the Gospel.
