Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
23rd 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).
