The Goodness of the Lord: Reflections on the Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

If you haven’t already read the readings you can find them here.

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a
Psalm 89
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Matthew 10:37-42

God is the epitome of “good.” After He had created the universe, “God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.” The Good God can only create good things. It is only when they get corrupted that they cease to be good. Basically, there is only one thing God demands of us that we recognize His goodness and trust in Him above everything else. If we want goodness, we have to put God first.

The reading from the Second Book of Kings is an example of God’s goodness. The prophet Elisha had established a routine of dining at the home of an influential woman who recognized him as a holy man of God. As such, she decided to make a place for him during his visits so that he could be more comfortable, furnishing it with a bed, table, chair, and a lamp. Elisha, recognizing this act of unbidden kindness, asks what could be done for her. The reading doesn’t say that Elisha prayed to God, but if we read about him we know that he has a close relationship with God and spoke and acted on His behalf often. Elisha’s servant notes that the woman is childless and getting on in years and so Elisha promises her a son within the year.

If we read on we see that Elisha’s promise came true and that this friendly relationship with the woman continued. However, some time later the child developed a problem and died, and the woman appealed to Elisha who came and restored the child to life. These are examples of God’s goodness and both echo God’s promise to Abraham for a child as well as pointing to Jesus’ raising the dead (Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, Mark 5:22-39, John 11:1-44).

With such examples it is easy to see why the responsorial psalm repeats, “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” As the psalm says, the Lord is faithful and kind to those who follow Him and walk in the light of His countenance, the “Holy One of Israel, our king.” And we, like the psalmist says, should rejoice at the name of the Lord for through His justice we shall be exalted. This calls to mind Jesus’ telling us, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

In the reading from Romans, St. Paul is talking about the rebirth of baptism, much like Jesus told Nicodemus when they met at night (John 3:3). In baptism we die to sin and are made new in Christ. To take advantage of this St. Paul tells us we must think of ourselves as dead to sin and focus on living in Christ. In this way, death will have no power over us. Our focus is on eternal life with Jesus in heaven. So it is incumbent upon us to live for God and follow His commandments so that, when the time comes, “we shall also live with him [Jesus].”

The gospel reading gives us more insight into the themes of God’s goodness as well as living with Christ. Jesus gives the message in a way that seems shocking at first, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me ...” And he tells us this may involve suffering, “whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” Those who put themselves first, seeking themselves above God, will lose their [eternal] life. But those who give all for Jesus’ sake will find eternal life. Even the smallest sacrifices on Jesus’ behalf, like giving a cup of cold water to a disciple, will garnish a reward. Dr. Peter Kreeft explains this message as follows, “The way to perfect joy is perfectly simple. It is simply to put God first.” (Dr. Peter Kreeft, Making Sense Out of Suffering)

Jesus further tells us that we have a mission. We are His representatives. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me,” just as He was sent by and represents the Father. We need to have that same conviction and speak (and act) Jesus’ message boldly without diluting it. Jesus is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

Sadly, too many today are reluctant or afraid to speak Jesus’ message out loud and firmly. Recall last week’s gospel reading where Jesus told us, “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Without firm declaration of the Truth of Jesus’ teaching, people get confused, the message gets corrupted, and even priests and bishops begin pushing a message not wholly in consonance with Church teaching. Jesus warned of wolves in sheep’s clothing. “We might not like it, but the fact is that even individual men of the Church can deceive, and they do it with shrewdness, dressed in the appropriate clerical garb.” (Fr. Livio Fanzaga, The Deceiver) This highlights the importance of knowing Scripture and knowing (and studying) our faith. The devil is a liar from the beginning and even uses Scripture to try to deceive. Note how he tried to bring Scripture into his attempt to test Jesus in the desert. But that does not excuse our responsibility for our actions. “The devil can tempt you to do something wrong, but ultimately you choose.” (Fr. William Casey, You Shall Stand Firm)

Martin Luther edited Scripture when he produced his translation of the Bible, adding words that weren’t in the original Greek. The Church should not try to edit God’s word. “Since the Church did not make [God’s] laws, she cannot be their arbiter—only their guardian and interpreter.” (Pope St. Paul VI, Humanae Vitae)

Even today we see attempts at twisting Scripture and Catholic teaching, especially about the issues of abortion, euthanasia, homosexual actions and transgenderism under the guise of “emerging issues.” (See Synod on Synodality Report Number 9) However, these are not emerging issues, they were issues going back to the Old Testament as well as in the early Church. The Church teaching has been consistent as it must be because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. “For I, the LORD, do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) Yes, we live in a broken world, and we are all flawed (sinners). We should have compassion for all. However, compassion for sinners does not mean we condone their sin.

As Jesus noted, we are to speak His message boldly and with confidence. God’s word is goodness and should not be hidden.