THE WORD
2 Kgs 24,8-17 / Mt 7,21-29
Jesus said to his disciples, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
IN OTHER WORDS
In his book, Healing Wounded Emotions, Fr. Martin Padovani SVD sharply distinguishes between obedience out of conviction or as an act of the will and obedience out of guilt, fear or shame. When one has made the firm decision to comply with a command, especially from a parent, he/she can then forego and handle reasonably, with faith, whatever emotions that may consequently surface.
But the basis for compliance is feelings – pleasant when the order/command is suitable, or unpleasant when it goes against one’s wishes – then that kind of obedience will neither last nor have much value. For many sons, obedience to the father can be a real test of the will given, as Sigmund Freud theorized, the “Oedipus complex” lurking in our psyche.
Initially the two sons in the gospel story showed different attitudes to the father, different reactions to the order their parent had given. One, at the start, said “yes” but did not go and comply with his father’s command, the other son said “no” but, after thinking it over did obey his father.
Overcoming his initial emotions and attitude, the second son made arm determination to obey.
If we look at Jesus as “the parable of the Father,” we will see in him the ideal son: a combination of the best of the two sons. Jesus said “yes” and he, overcoming his emotions in the Garden of Gethsemane, obeyed. His was obedience even unto death. And his obedience ful lled what the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The obedience of the Lord brought infinite good to this world.
Not only will wounded emotions be healed, but by perfect obedience, the world itself will be healed or reconciled to the Father, Fr. Padovani claims.
- Fr. Flor Lagura, SVD | U.S.A.
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
