Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

23^rd Sunday of the Year, B – September 9, 2018.

Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7; Ps 145:7-10; James 2:1-5; 

Gospel – Mark 7:31-37.

Theme: Restoring all things in Christ!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, today our readings point to how “great things happen when God mixes with us.” It reveals the reality of both retributive and restorative justice. The last line of the gospel text captures the sentiment when it says, he does everything well. Our reflection titled “Restoring all things in Christ” shall explore the readings in search for the requisite spiritual recipe. This shall be achieved through considering the background and summary of the readings in the light of pastoral application. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

In the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 35:4-7), the prophet who was writing to strengthen the returning exiles uses poetic devices to drive home the message that the salvation of the Lord is ultimately connected to God’s justice. By using bodily imagery or symbolic language laced with alliteration, Isaiah discloses both retributive and restorative justice to make the point that God repays each man according to his deeds if not here, in the world to come. While revealing God as a legitimate authority who brings about retribution, he encourages the people not to be afraid. 

Through restorative justice, each person gets what he or she deserves while in restorative justice, God assures that hope is on the way. It promises that God is right here and is working to make everything right. It further assures that God will repair, heal and transform everything. It speaks words of courage and strength to those whose hearts are racing. The wilderness is transformed into a garden amidst great rejoicing. As the created order is being restored, the weak and the vulnerable in the social order are made whole even as God visits his people.

The theme of restoring all things in Christ is also addressed in the second reading wherein St. James (James 2:1-5) cautions his audience not to take to judgment but reserve it for God. Pointing towards the ultimate judgment at the end of time, he encourages the faithful to await the promise of God for those who love him by not showing class distinction between the rich and the poor. He warns against the use of double standards and being corrupt judges as a result of discrimination and premature judgment.

In the same light, the gospel reading (Mark 7:31-37) recalls the healing of the deaf man who had a speech impediment around the Decapolis region. It reveals how the man was brought to Jesus and how Jesus took him away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle and his ears were opened and he was able to speak. The long and short of the text is that Jesus restored the man to health of mind and body. However, some salient points to note include: first, the man was apparently brought to Jesus by friends and family; second, Jesus took the man away from the crowd and third, he touched the ears and tongue of the man who was a gentile; fourth, the people testified that Jesus has done all things well.  

Distinction between Instant and General Judgment

Retributive and restorative justice points to the four last things, death, judgment, heaven and hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC. Nos. 1020-1041) explains what the Church calls instant/particular and general judgment. It teaches that immediately you die, judgment takes place as in the case of the thief on the cross. However, there would be general judgment at the end of time when God would come in glory with his angles to judge the living and the dead. At that time, the dead would rise, the angles will blow the trumpet and human beings would be separated as a shepherd separates sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31-46). 

The essential point being made here is that God intends to restore all things to himself at the end of time. That is what we profess every Sunday when we say or sing the creed: “He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead…and I look forward to the resurrection of dead and the life of the world to come. amen.” The point here is that a time will come when God will restore everything to himself in the next world where the exile returnees of Israel who have suffered the ravages of war will be happy in the place where the cripple will have no need of healing, where the impediment of the deaf man in the gospel will be taken care of. This is why St. James says, we should suspend all forms of discrimination or premature judgment until the end of time.

Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons

1. We are reminded that when God visits his people, he demands an appropriate or a corresponding response.

2. Our liturgy reveals that whether God’s presence is characterized by a theophany or manifestation of mighty works which he does amongst his people, his contact with human beings actually changes everything because “great things happen when God mixes with us.”

3. Our liturgy promises that at the end of time, the whole of creation and humanity will be transformed at the appearance of the Lord who would come to judge the living and the dead.

4. It further reveals that the eschatological theophany or revelation of God would be associated with great rejoicing for the righteous even as it becomes doomsday for the unrighteous.

5. In a country devilled by severe insecurity ranging from Boko Haram to killer-herdsmen and commercial kidnappers, the Lord urges us not to lose heart but be courageous.

6. The message of the first reading that the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, the lamb leap like the deer and tongues of the dumb sing for joy challenges us as individuals and the body of Christ to stand up for those at the margins of society like the IDPs, the aged, and street urchins by restoring hope to their lives and giving them a sense of acceptance desired of all God’s sons and daughters.

7. By touching the man who was a Gentile, Jesus challenges us to knock down look the barriers of cast system and other such discriminatory practices by taking care of the sick without being afraid that we would be infected with a disease.    

8. The second reading calls us not to discriminate against anyone on the basis of sex, race, religion, status and economic standing but give everyone equal opportunities to reach their potentials even as we shun being judges.

9.  Just as the man with speech impairment was brought to Jesus by his friends and family, it behoves us to assist others by bringing them to Jesus

10. By taking the man away from the crowd, Jesus teaches us to always resist the temptation of commercializing Christianity or worse still, turning the Church of God into a theater of entertainment and publicity.

11. By testifying that Jesus has done all things well, the people in the gospel teach us to acknowledge good wherever we see it especially in our brothers and sisters and the created order. 

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. Today our readings point to how “great things happen when God mixes with us.”

2. As the created order is being restored, the weak and the vulnerable in the social order are made whole even as God visits his people.

3. God intends to restore all things to himself at the end of time.

4. St. James says, we should suspend all forms of discrimination or premature judgment until the end of time.

5. Jesus restored the man to health of mind and body. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, we recall how at a time when people were moving towards godlessness, Pope Pius X dedicated his pontificate to a single aim of “Restoring all things in Christ.” He challenged the people of God to lookup to Jesus, take the Blessed Virgin Mary as Model, imitate the Saints, be Saints and sanctify the family, work and help restore Christian civilization. We pray at the celebration of this Holy Mass for God to help us understand the demands of both retributive and restorative justice so as to live good Christian lives and be happy with him in the next. Have a blessed week ahead!