Mass for the 18th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020 - Year A
Channel: Jesuit Institute South Africa
Date: 2020-08-02

Join the Jesuit Institute South Africa as they celebrate the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This morning's Mass is celebrated by Fr Bruce Botha SJ.

Owing to COVID-19 and the suspensions of Mass in various parts of the country, we invite everyone to make a 'Spiritual Communion' with us during this Mass. More resources are available at https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/covid-19-resources/

You might want to light a candle, or do something to make this a prayerful time for you all. Our readings for this Mass are:

              First Reading                   Isaiah 55:1–3
              Response                         Psalm 145:16
              Psalm                               Psalm 145:8–9, 15–18
              Second Reading              Romans 8:35, 37–39
              Gospel Acclamation       Matthew 4:4b
              Gospel                              Matthew 14:13–21

Homily (begins at 9:58)

The Prophet Isaiah poses a challenging question to us today. He asks us “Why do you spend your money on what is not bread, wages for what fails to satisfy?” He points us towards a very human reality, that sometimes we make bad choices, we choose things which do not bring us to a place of life or happiness.

Here the prophet is merely echoing the sentiments of the writer of Deuteronomy who in verse 15 of the 30th chapter, says, “See I set before you today life and goodness, death and evil. Choose wisely.” This grand, cosmic language is unsettling for us, because usually we don’t see ourselves making those kinds of decisions, or rather, we do not see the significance of the decisions that we do make.

How often do we truly choose? Do we appreciate the significance of our choices?

I sometimes think that we go through a lot of life on auto pilot. We do what we have always done, because we have always done it, or because those around us are doing the same things. We develop habits, patterns of behaviour and of thinking. We do things, we make choices, without consciously reflecting on them. Instead of actively choosing for ourselves, we allow life to make those choices for us.

Do we realise that gossiping is choosing death? Do we realise that paying a bribe, or accepting one, is choosing death? Do we realise that saying a kind and encouraging word to someone in need of comfort is choosing life? Do we realise that choosing to be patient in bumper-to-bumper traffic, instead of yelling at every taxi that passes us by in the emergency lane is choosing goodness and life?

The prophet Isaiah posed that question: “Why spend your money for what is not bread, wages for what fails to satisfy?” He concludes with an invitation: “Come to me, that you may have life.”

Our choices, no matter how big or how small, are significant, because in big or small ways we are choosing to become more like Christ, or less like Christ.

In the Gospel today we hear of the feeding of the five thousand men, seemingly an impossible task when all they had were five loaves and two fish. Someone in that crowd made a choice to bring what they had and to share it with Jesus. In John’s Gospel, which reports that same event, we are told that it was a boy, a little more than a child, who brings and offers these gifts to Jesus. He could have chosen to do what most hungry boys would do: take his food to a quiet and private place and satisfy his hunger. Instead, he chose to be life-giving. He made a choice to be generous, to give to the Lord the gifts that he had, so that the Lord could bless them. And that’s what Jesus did, he blessed these gifts. From this generous impulse, the choice which this young boy made, life, abundant life, was present there on that hillside.

We don’t always realise that the little choices we make to be kind, or generous, or affirming or honest, is our way of choosing life and goodness, our way of choosing to be more Christ-like in our own lives. 

I do not know what choices you will face today or in the weeks ahead, but I want you to know that those choices are important. I hope that you will reflect on them, and that you will actively make your choices, rather than just allowing life to make them for you. Choose wisely. Choose life and choose goodness.

You can listen to this homily at
https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/sunday-reflections/listen-reflection-for-the-18th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a/

or download it to read here,
https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Homily-for-the-18th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time.pdf