29th Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]

 


29TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [A]


Has St. Paul put his visit to Thessalonica behind him? Have the people who live there been relegated to the status of  “afterthought"? Actually, it is just the opposite. They are being remembered very fondly. Paul is profoundly thankful for this community, and he continues to lift them up in prayer (see 1st Thess. 1:1-4). If you happen to be a member of that church, then you’re probably feeling rather touched. It’s nice being remembered. It warms your heart. 


Perhaps this explains the popularity of “Cheers” [NBC, 1982 to 1993]. Tuning in, we saw one person after another walking through the doors of that Boston establishment. Why patronize a location like Cheers? It’s the place where everybody knows your name.  And they’re always glad you came. One wonders: did anybody named “Cyrus” ever step through the doorway? We encounter this particular name in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (45:1-3). From an Israelite standpoint, this is a name to recognize and also to celebrate. Thanks to Cyrus, the time of exile is being brought to an end. You can return from exile, and furthermore, you can rebuild. Yes, we know your name, Cyrus! And we’re glad you came!! 


With regard to Cyrus, his arrival can be traced to the 6th century BC. Moving forward in time, we are now shifting from one foreign power to another foreign power: from Persia to Imperial Rome. If you were to inspect a Roman coin, you would see the name and the image of a Roman emperor. In the case of Matthew 22:20, it’s the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Yes, we know that name. It’s a name that we will recognize—but we won’t celebrate it. We know your name, Tiberius. Are we glad you came? Not exactly. You’re occupying Galilee. You’re occupying Samaria. Most critically, you are occupying the territory of Judea. For that matter, you seem to be occupying the whole world! 


That’s what we can say about the Emperor Tiberius. We’ve said something about the Roman Emperor Tiberius and about the Persian Emperor Cyrus; still, what about the rest of us? Ask yourself: what about me? If I were to pay a visit to the Lord, would he know my name? Am I a familiar face? Can I claim to be on familiar terms with the Lord? And if he does recognize me, will he be glad to see me? Is this going to be a “Cheers” moment? Or, is it going to be some other kind of moment? It stands to reason that the Lord will always be glad to see you. But we need to consider the issue of translation. Are we talking about a gladness that translates into a spirit of affirmation? 


Clearly, St. Paul’s words can be understood as words of affirmation. He goes out of his way to commend the people of Thessalonica. It’s a gladness that translates into affirmation. The hope is that the Lord will look upon you with a similar measure of gladness. The hope is that he will affirm you and your way of life. Nevertheless, it’s possible that you might have to absorb a dose (or two or three) of constructive criticism. In other words, you will be hearing something about the subject of reform. If it’s not completely a “Cheers” experience, appreciate the fact that he TRULY IS glad that you have entered into his presence. He’s glad you came!! 

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