Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Even as we continue with our reflection on the Sermon on the Mount, we must take today’s first reading into consideration. It recounts one of the most important events in the history of the Old Testament history – the discovery of the second book of the Law. We know this book as the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy means “second law” and it is called so because these words of Moses remained hidden till the reign of King Josiah between 609-640 BC. Scripture scholars believe that King Josiah was so deeply touched in his heart by this book that he initiated a national reform based on the teaching found in the book. Josiah began the program of reform because he wanted to take his people away the spiritual decadence that had prevailed in Israel and Judah. There was widespread desecration of the Covenant and worship of Yahweh centered around a superficial practice of the law. The people had to face the consequences for their infidelity to the Covenant. As today’s first reading tells us. “… the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfill our written obligations” (2 kings 22:13). Josiah interpreted their many defeat at the hands of Israel’s enemies to infidelity to the Covenant. This seems to be so close to what Jesus is saying in today’s gospel reading. In the context of the New Law (Sermon on the Mount 5-7) that Jesus gives, he says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt 7:19).
Our ancestors attributed the consequences of disobedience to God’s anger. But a more appropriate way to look at the consequences of disobedience is to look at the dynamic of covenant making. Engrained as part of a covenant was the clause, “May I be cursed if I do not keep the covenant.” The consequences, then, are merely the punishment that the partners of the covenant wished on themselves if they violated the terms of the covenant. (Of course, in the New Testament, Jesus took upon himself the punishment for people’s infidelity. That is why his death was so gruesome).
The point of both these readings today can be summarized in these words. Jesus, just like God in the Old Testament, calls the people to fidelity to the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon is a blessing to those faithful disciples who hear the sermon, practice it and then “bear good fruit.” But those who do live by the Sermon not will find themselves excluded from the Kingdom.
What does this mean for us? It means that our call to be disciples is a great privilege. We are invited into God’s Kingdom by none other than Jesus himself. This is no small matter. God does not force us into his Kingdom, although, he wishes that all of us would respond to his call. WE must make the choice to respond in love and fidelity. The choice is ours.
- Fr. Satish Joseph