Scripture Study for

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

The metaphor that Isaiah uses to characterize the love that God has for the  people is extraordinary. It compares this love to the relationship between a  mother and the nursing child of her womb. Such a metaphor could have been  considered presumptuous had it not been placed by the prophet in the mouth  of God. It is improbable, though possible, that a woman would forget the child of  her flesh. However, God will never forget this people. Therefore, though Zion may  feel abandoned and forgotten, it is only a feeling; it is not a fact. God’s attachment  to the people will never be severed. 

Paul speaks about ministerial accountability and judgment. Stewards were  responsible for the goods of the household of another. Paul claims that as such a  steward he is indeed trustworthy. He has committed himself wholeheartedly to  the proclamation of the gospel, to the distribution of the mysteries of God, and  he stands by this claim regardless of what others might think. Acknowledging that  he is obliged to give an account of his stewardship, he insists that it is the Lord  who will be his judge. Such judgment is bound to be much more demanding than  mere human judgment. Human beings can be wrong, but the Lord knows the  motives of the heart. 

Jesus is not naive about the human need for food and clothing and shelter  and material support. Nor does he advocate passivity or laziness in the face  of hard work. He is talking about setting one’s priorities straight, appreciating  humankind’s place in the natural world, trusting in the goodness and providence  of God. He uses two examples from nature to demonstrate what he means: God’s  care for birds and God’s artistry in clothing the lilies. The point of this teaching is  confidence in God. People prone to anxiety need to be reminded that they are  precious in God’s eyes and they must learn to trust in God’s providence.

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