THE MERCY OF GOD RESTORES THE GOODNESS OF HUMAN NATURE.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A.
July 20, 2008.
(First reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19) (Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16)
(Second reading: Romans 8:26-27) (Gospel reading: Matthew 13:24-43)


THE MERCY OF GOD RESTORES
THE GOODNESS OF HUMAN NATURE.

Humanity begins its existence filled with the goodness instilled in it by its Creator, just as today's gospel tells us that "the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field" (Matthew 13:24). And in the end, humanity will produce a harvest of good "wheat".

Now, if man begins as a good seed and ends as a good harvest, then, what happened in between?: Evil enters the heart of man, causing humanity to distort human nature, just like the planting of the weeds gave the field of good wheat a configuration different than that intended by the owner of the field.

The entrance of evil in human society causes division, injustice, wars, lies and oppression to appear, just like the "weeds appeared" in the field (Matthew 13:26). Evil appears in human history whenever human beings exploits their fellow human beings, just like "the enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat" "when everyone was asleep" (Matthew 13:25)

The mercy of God manifests itself in human history.
God's mercy is essentially and act of liberation offered to all human beings, both the righteous and the evil-doers. This is how God's mercy is manifested:
- God manifests his mercy by pouring his goodness not only at the time when he sows "good seed in his field" and when he "gathers the wheat into [his] barn" (that is to say, at beginning and at the end of time) but also when he becomes a human being and offers his life for the redemption of humanity.

- God manifests his mercy by respecting everyone's freedom; the righteous' as well as the evil-doers' freedom. The gospel (Matthew 13:29) says that the owner of the field orders his laborers not to pull up the weeds for "if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow until harvest". It is God's design to allow human beings to be the authors of their own destiny: For life or for death.

- God manifests his mercy by offering his own Spirit to every human being. Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans says: "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness... and the One who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit"; and once the Spirit is accepted, "the Spirit intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will" (Romans 8:26-27).

In a world of sin, destruction and death, it is an act of mercy for us to count on the strength of God's Spirit as our only means of liberation, individually and collectively.

- God manifests his mercy by showing it to us through his own personal example. Says the Book of Wisdom: "Your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all... Though you are master of might, you judge with clemency... And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind" (Wisdom 12:16, 19). Therefore, the All-Merciful wants us to be merciful as he is.

- God manifests his mercy by giving us faith in him, for it is only by faith that we are able to believe what Psalm 86:15 proclaims: "You, Lord are a merciful and gracious God".

As we learn to be merciful as God is, we will be able to restore the goodness of our human nature.