Weekly Readings

Editor’s Note: Fr. Peter shares insights from a variety of voices on the Sunday readings.

What Image of the Kingdom Will You Serve Up?

Jesus’ favorite thing to talk about was a mystery he called the kingdom of God, referred to in the Gospel of Matthew as the kingdom of heaven. He was not the first to speak of it. The prophets before him spoke often of God’s dream for the world. They wanted all to know what it would look like when God reigns here on earth as God already reigns in the heavens. But Jesus added to that teaching by offering vivid new images of what God’s reign is like. Matthew 13 is filled with such snapshots. The kingdom of heaven will be like a mustard seed, a pearl, a measure of leaven, a hidden treasure. It will be like a sower casting out seed, a wheat harvest, a net that catches many fish.

At the end of this litany, however, Jesus offers an image of what he expects of those who have received his teaching about the Kingdom. They are to be like “the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52). It sounds as if Jesus’ disciples are to act like hosts of a banquet, setting the table with stories from across time to feed their guests with whatever words and images would best help them grasp the mystery of this kingdom. They are to continue Jesus’ work of developing new ways to illumine a mystery that is in the end too great for words.

~ Ann M. Garrido

Reflect

What image of God’s kingdom would you offer people of the twenty-first century?

Authors

MIGUEL DULICK: Michael Dulick earned post-graduate degrees in English, Spanish, and Philosophy, as well as a Master of Divinity. During his studies, he discovered Honduras, where he has lived since 2003 as “Hermano Miguel,” to live and pray with the poor in the village of Las Vegas. His donation-supported work is to keep families together rather than risking their lives to migrate to the United States. In 2007, Miguel adopted Anselmo, a 13-year-old orphan, so he could sign the forms that allowed Anselmo to receive life-saving open-heart surgery. And now he is Abuelo Miguel with a granddaughter, three-year-old Alicia!

ANN M. GARRIDO: Ann Garrido is the oldest of eight siblings in a large Catholic family from St. Louis, Missouri.  Her childhood dream of sharing the faith as a teacher and preacher has taken her to all 50 states and 20 countries. Ann is Associate Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology and a longtime formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd movement. She currently lives in Georgia with Mike, her husband of more than thirty years. For more on Ann and her writing, see anngarrido.com.

 
FR. BYRON MILLER, CSsR: Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR, was director of the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in New Orleans from 2000 to 2015, before serving as president and publisher of Liguori Publications until 2023. In 2021, he authored Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter for pilgrims on the perennial Lenten journey to Easter.

 
FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR: Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was professed as a Redemptorist in 1973 and ordained a priest in June of 1978. He is a graduate of Holy Redeemer College (Waterford, Wisconsin) and the State University of New York (Mount Saint Alphonsus). His work has included teaching theology, directing retreats, Scrupulous Anonymous ministry, and he is the author of numerous books and articles. Fr. Santa is currently serving his second assignment as the President/Publisher of Liguori Publications.