Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Mt 13, 24-43) Jesus once again speaks in parables to describe the “kingdom of heaven” that we can identify as the fullness of humanity, the fulfilment of desire, as all that we seek in order to live a full, fulfilled life where our need to be recognised, to love and to be loved give life to our existence.
The parables that Jesus tells, in order to realise, to fulfil the “kingdom of heaven” require discernment, the ability to read, to understand reality in order to make those fundamental choices regarding the truth of our lives. To distinguish the wheat and the darnel, to have the patience for them to grow together, to discover with time that what we thought was darnel turns out to be wheat and, on the contrary, what we thought was wheat turns out, with time, to be darnel.
In essence, the relationship with the true God, leads us to invest all our resources to live, to become capable of discernment, that is, of true human acts. The relationship with the true God spurs us to the fullness of humanity, to go beyond those limits we have codified for apparent peace. It leads us gently and firmly to life in abundance, which is what we desire in all our choices.
The Communion antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 50 (Ps 50:21) with the following text:
“Acceptábis sacrificium iustítiæ,
oblatiónes et holocáusta, super altáre tuum, Dómine.”
(You will accept a sacrifice of righteousness,
oblations and burnt offerings, placed on your altar, O Lord).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The music track can be found on YouTube where there is no indication of interpretation.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
