Gospel Reflection

14th Sunday After Pentecost - More than Sparrows

I’d quote the whole thing - I would. However, today’s Gospel from the 1962 lectionary is so common and and the stuff of annual calendars, I can’t do it. But our Lord’s words at face value are either trusted or not. The collect is as follows:

Protect Your Church by Your abiding mercy, we beseech You, O Lord, and since all mortals fall without You, may Your help keep them from danger and guide them to salvation.

“… since all mortals fail without you.” Because of lingering concupiscence, we have to remember Peter’s warning from compline that our enemy the devil roams about seeking whom he may devour. If our prayer life, devotion and fasting lapse, our enemy waits at the door to take advantage of our weak flesh. As St. Paul says in today’s epistle from Galatians, “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you would.” The imperative περιπατεῖτε, “You walk in/by the Spirit.” It is a hebraism from הָלַך. Interestingly enough, this word from peripateo, means “conduct you life this way.”

The Septuagint translates the Hebrew הָלַך (halakhah) as περιπατέω. The etymology just means “to walk.” Idiomatically, it means “live this way.” It carries the connotation of ethical or covenantal obedience. Interestingly enough, halakhah is the “way of life” for Orthodox Judaism. It is the tradition as a whole, it’s history, ethics, morals, philosophy, homiletics, and mythology. Put another way, it is “being Jewish.”

For Catholics, it is the same. New Covenant halakhah includes the history, ethics, morals, philosophy, homiletics, and mythology of the Church Fathers. Jesus took that authority from the Pharisees (cf. Matthew 21; 23) and gave it to the Apostles (Matthew 18.18-20; 28.18-20). The New Covenant people of God (which includes baptized Jews, but also all of us from among the nations - Galatians 3.26-29) have an updated magisterium that formerly belonged to the Pharisees.

What has all this to do with today’s Gospel? As St. Paul commanded: walk in the Spirit. You will be less inclined to give into the vices that dull your sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit and His promptings, allowing you to recognize the simple the things of Providence. The same God who takes care of lilies and sparrows is the same one Who provides you with what you need. The sanctified eyes of faith infused by sacramental grace can comprehend this simple truth: not only will you fail because of concupiscence, but God will provide. His incarnate Son declared infallibly He will do so, not because of your faithfulness but in spite of your faithlessness: our Father loves us and He keeps His promises. Aren’t you worth more than birds and flowers? “… seek first the Kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be given you besides.”