23/07/2006 - SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Year B
First Reading Jeremia 23:1-6 Psalm 22/23
Second Reading Ephesians 2:13-18 Gospel Mark 6:30-34
I have touched upon a long series of topics, which should be faced in the presentation
of the Sixth Commandment. The times in which we live require it: the world that
surrounds us is so full of sexual distortions and deviances which trouble the
conscience and confuse it; they encourage and misdirect those who are weak,
or not-so-strong, in behaviours and opinions without rules, without respect,
without discretion and, even more, without concern for the suffering that they
bring to others. The older among us were trained, from their youth, to treat
sexuality with care and a rather exaggerated modesty; today, the opposite extreme
is realized! A sane balance seems far away, difficult to reach in our secular
western culture, which tends to ignore God.
We must always remember God's intention, which, in creating man, "man and
woman He made them"! The sexual diversities between man and woman and their
mutual attraction are in the intentions and plans of the Father, who made man
so that, in order to reach his full potential, he must welcome the help of opposite
sex. In so doing, He made man to be humble and capable of loving and of being
loved. In this capacity of receiving and giving love there is, not only, the
likeness of man to God but, also, the possibility of collaborating with the
fullness of His power of creation, the power of giving life! Sexuality, therefore,
is precious and sacred. Whatever offends human sexuality and whatever distorts
its understanding, offends God, Himself! Even jokes which trivialize and speak
egotistically of this aspect of life shriek in our ears as if it were blasphemy!
Jesus, too, faced some difficulties! He wanted to retreat to a deserted place
so that His disciples could rest, but it was not possible. Many hurried to the
deserted place and Jesus and the apostles were surrounded by the crowds! Even
this situation became an occasion for His identity to be revealed! He might
have been recognized as the "true king" whom the prophets had foretold,
especially Jeremiah; the king that had been promised to David by God, Himself.
"I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king
and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land".
Through the same prophet, God promises to care for His people, as a good shepherd
cares for his lost sheep, unable to take care of themselves and get to their
pastures! Jesus is this shepherd: He is God; He is the hand, the voice and the
eye of God who cares for His people! In the deserted place where the disciples
should have been able to rest, the multitudes are refreshed. Here, they all
encounter the presence and the Word of Jesus, which nurtures them, guides them,
sustains them, reassures them and makes them feel loved by the Father, surrounded
by His loving care!
The Psalm responding to the First Reading, helps us to express our faith in
God, the Shepherd whose presence Jesus makes visible and tangible, and who renders
effective His care for us. We fear nothing; we are secure in hope and the certainty
of a joyful future, because God is with us. We cannot doubt it, because it was
for this that the Lord Jesus gave His life!
Saint Paul presents a special aspect of the Lord's care! Through His death,
He fulfilled the law which, therefore, no longer weighs on us: it created division
between the Hebrews and the pagans, between the chosen people and all the others.
Now, we have been saved because of our faith in Him; no longer because we observe
particular rites and rules. The Hebrews, as well as the pagans, will be saved,
thanks to the Blood of Jesus! That is why He is our peace: every division crumbles
before Him. The animosity, which separates the Hebrews from the pagan, disappears
because of Jesus! He has reconciled all, each person, with God, by renewing
our conscience! Great is His work!
We don't know that place where we have nothing to do with the Hebrews, these
divisions and differences; yet, we know many people with even more hopeless,
self-centered cultures. We know of many other differences: social, cultural,
religious, racial, political, etc. Still, Jesus, Our Lord, will make all division
and animosity disappear from within the varied groups of human beings, wherever
He is welcomed and loved. When we follow Him, it is obvious that we spontaneously
welcome anyone who may be His disciple; furthermore, we easily see every man
with a benevolent eye, because Jesus is seeking him to give him His love and
His joy!
We retreat so that we can be alone with Jesus, to rest with Him. We discover
that all who surround us are loved and welcomed by Him, even though they have
not yet decided, and are not ready to be His! It is a great gift to be able
to retreat alone in order to be with Jesus: by cultivating an intimacy with
Him, we become an instrument of His love for many!