The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Carlos Macatanga SVD – Cristo Rey Parish, Canada
Thursday 21st Week in Ordinary Time
God is a generous provider. Amen!
God is merciful and loving. Amen!
God is just. And there was silence!
We like the image of God as the father of the prodigal son or the image of the good shepherd doing everything for the sheep to the point of risking his life for them. We take comfort in the stories of Jesus healing the sick and dining with the outcasts and forgiving the sinners. However, some people have difficulty understanding the notion of a just God or an angry God.
What was the main responsibility of the servant in the Gospel today? He was put in charge of the household to distribute food at the proper time. Can you imagine the consequence if the servant forgets to fulfill this responsibility? The members of the household will be hungry! And if they are hungry, how can they work? However, not only did the servant not distribute the food but he also beat his fellow servants and drunk with drunkards. How can you not get angry in this situation? The servant who was supposed to take care of them maltreated and abused them. Thus, we can understand the anger and the indignation of the master. Justice must be served! There can be no healing and unity without justice and accountability.
We need to remind ourselves that God is merciful, loving, forgiving and JUST! Those who harm others will experience the justice of God. Those who bully and make fun of the most vulnerable members of our community will experience the justice of God. Those who kill others for political or economic reasons will experience the justice of God. Those who do injustice to others will themselves experience the justice of God. Remember: “the servant`s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
Therefore, let us stay awake! Do good to others and be just at all times so that when the Lord comes we may receive our just rewards.
