20-second Summary
Jesus patiently explains to Martha that her work, though good, is not the most important thing at the moment. Abraham and Sarah’s patience is rewarded by the promise of their son, Isaac. The Lord’s infinite patience leads to justice in all His dealings with us, His very impatient and unjust children. This week we reflect and work on the virtues of patience and justice in how we relate to one another. With God’s help our patience can lead to justice, too.
Catechesis At Home – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Patience Leads to Justice
First Reading
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
and bowing to the ground, he said:
“Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
and afterward you may go on your way.”
The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
“Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.”
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
He replied, “There in the tent.”
One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son.”
Responsorial Psalm
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Second Reading
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his body, which is the church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Gospel Reading
Alleluia
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
Mass Readings are presented verbatim from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) web site in good faith accordance with its “Web and Other Digital Media Usage” guidelines. All Rights are reserved to the USCCB.
Patience Leads to Justice
REFLECTION – The Lord’s Patience Leads to Justice
Abraham sits patiently in the opening of his tent, in the heat of the day. When the day is done, he is promised that his aging and barren wife, Sarah, will bear him a child within a year. He is told this by someone who has waited patiently all day for Abraham’s promised meal. It takes a long time to prepare a steer! Abraham’s patience leads to The Lord’s patience a hundred-fold more in the reward to Abraham. Abrahams patience leads to justice from God.
The Psalmist tells us that “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” And he tells us many things that are just before he tells us this reward. The response is a mashup of the beginning of the reading and the ending. Between, the things that he says are just are all rooted in patience. They are things one who is Just does not do – and the not doing takes patience. Patience leads to Justice in our being with God in heaven.
Paul’s suffering requires patience of seemingly super-human capability. He experiences Justice many times through his suffering. And perhaps the greatest Justice is what we receive by his suffering: The great works of his letters that have become Holy scripture. In his patience we have been justly rewarded with the Word of God! Paul’s Patience leads to Justice for us all here in exile!
And speaking of the Word, we hear in the Alleluia before the Gospel, “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” Perseverance takes patience, and in the Gospel, we experience Mary persevering in patiently listening to Jesus. While Martha does busy work, Mary listens intently, patiently absorbing Jesus’ teaching. We do not know what Mary does with all that she learned, but we know that it must have been wonderful sharing with others, or else Jesus would not have said she was doing the better part. And through Mary’s patient attentiveness, we have a great lesson of how to prepare ourselves for The Lord and heaven. Through her patience we are justly rewarded! Mary’s Patience leads to Justice as we learn from her how to make God our first priority.
DISCUSSION – Our Impatience Can Lead to Injustice
How often do we “fly off the handle” or instinctively react to something that offends us, or not do what we know we should because we are too busy? Do we drive past the person at the corner asking for money because we think they are faking it, without actually being patient and recognizing Jesus in them? What happens when we let that email sit in the drafts folder for a few days before firing it off? Do we tend to see how hurtful it may have been to send it, and how petty the reason for sending it was?
This week, discuss the virtues of patience and justice, and how they are entwined. Discuss how Patience leads to Justice in our lives, sharing your experience with the above examples or others that are similar.
Can parents’ Patience lead to Justice in better punishment and consequences if we have the patience to let the anger and frustration subside? Can children’s Patience lead to Justice by not dismissing or ignoring parents who “just don’t understand” or are “unfair” if they take some time to patiently reflect on the situation?
ACTIVITY – Our Patience Leads to Justice, Trust, and Love
Let’s take some time between stimulus and response. Agree as a family that when something goes amiss (dishes do not get done, room is not cleaned, gas isn’t put in the car, etc. – the usual stuff!) there will be a 24 hour “cooling off” time before consequences are handed out. Make note of the incident with the people involved, and then say, “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
The next day, sit down together to visit about the incident. Ask what the others have thought about concerning the issue. What do they think are the reasons behind the particular chore or need or assignment that was not fulfilled? Share your reasoning and explore why there may be a difference in their understanding and your reasons. Remind each other that the goal is to see if Patience leads to Justice, so this activity will take as long as necessary.
Discuss why it is important, the frustration with it continuing to happen, and the natural consequences (For example, “I could not get to work without stopping for gas and that made me late to the meeting…and I need to work so we can all eat.”). Then together discuss the necessary consequences (punishment) to make it more uncomfortable to do it again – consequences the children are probably used to by now. Then discuss what better consequences or even better arrangements for the task being done might be on their minds.
After all of this, dole out the consequence as you see fit.
Most likely, you should find this consequence to be Just, as will the children. Then, take some time to discuss how this process has taken some time and patience, and how does everyone feel about that? Did Patience lead to Justice: Did waiting and working through things patiently bring about a more Just result? Better understanding?
A better relationship?
Continue in the days and weeks ahead to remind each other that Patience leads to Justice, and justice leads to great relationships of trust. Do this until it becomes an obvious habit.
DIG DEEPER – Other Voice of the Lord resources from Holy Owned and Operated:
Retreat Opportunity: Being a Catholic Family
TWMWU: Be Doers of the Word
TWMWU: Love is Patient
Podcast: Patience – Episode 22
Podcast: Teenagers – Episode 34
Video: Fruits of the Spirit: Patience
How does your Patience Lead to Justice?
by Beth & Kristofer Cowles
HOO™ Co-Founders
Other Help on HOO
Lust And Love – Episode 133
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 24.0MB)
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What is the difference between lust and love?
During this “season of Valentines” Beth and Kristofer cover this (often unknowingly) confusing and vitally important topic before we dive headlong into the pink and roses and hearts and whatnot.
Beth and Kristofer share how to tell the difference between lust and love, and how to teach that to impressionable minds and hearts.
And they do this in the context of Mortal Sin and Theological Virtue: Lust and Love, respectively.
They also, right out of the gate, point to Nick’s seven-part series about Love as a great resource on our web site for this discussion, which is linked to in the show notes.
Living in this world, but not of it, is difficult, and Beth and Kristofer offer us some pointers on how to do that, particularly in this day and age.
And, no, there is no inappropriate or “parental discretion advised” content in this episode.
But they do get attacked by a tree!
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