St. Sharbel Homily Helper

SAINT SHARBEL
BOOK OF OFFERING – PAGE 718
READINGS – ROMANS 8:28-39 & MATTHEW 13:36-43

Reading: Romans 8:28-39

God’s Indomitable Love in Christ.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we are being slain all the day;
we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I. Biblical Exegesis

a 8:28–30 These verses outline the Christian vocation as it was designed by God: to be conformed to the image of his Son, who is to be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom 8:29). God’s redemptive action on behalf of the believers has been in process before the beginning of the world. Those whom God chooses are those he foreknew (Rom 8:29) or elected. Those who are called (Rom 8:30) are predestined or predetermined. These expressions do not mean that God is arbitrary. Rather, Paul uses them to emphasize the thought and care that God has taken for the Christian’s salvation.
b 8:28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God: a few ancient authorities have God as the subject of the verb, and some translators render: “We know that God makes everything work for good for those who love God….”
c 8:29 Image: while man and woman were originally created in God’s image (Gn 1:26–27), it is through baptism into Christ, the image of God (2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15), that we are renewed according to the image of the Creator (Col 3:10).
d 8:31–39 The all-conquering power of God’s love has overcome every obstacle to Christians’ salvation and every threat to separate them from God. That power manifested itself fully when God’s own Son was delivered up to death for their salvation. Through him Christians can overcome all their afflictions and trials.
e 8:38 Present things and future things may refer to astrological data. Paul appears to be saying that the gospel liberates believers from dependence on astrologers.
f 8:39 Height, depth may refer to positions in the zodiac, positions of heavenly bodies relative to the horizon. In astrological documents the term for “height” means “exaltation” or the position of greatest influence exerted by a planet. Since hostile spirits were associated with the planets and stars, Paul includes powers (Rom 8:38) in his list of malevolent forces.

II. Old Testament References

[8:30] Isaiah 45:25
[8:31] Psalm 118:6
[8:33–34] Isaiah 50:8
[8:34] Psalm 110:1
[8:36] Psalm 44:23

Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

The Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned [up] with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

I. Biblical Exegesis

a 13:36 Dismissing the crowds: the return of Jesus to the house marks a break with the crowds, who represent unbelieving Israel. From now on his attention is directed more and more to his disciples and to their instruction. The rest of the discourse is addressed to them alone.
b 13:37–43 In the explanation of the parable of the weeds emphasis lies on the fearful end of the wicked, whereas the parable itself concentrates on patience with them until judgment time.
c 13:38 The field is the world: this presupposes the resurrection of Jesus and the granting to him of “all power in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18).
d 13:39 The end of the age: this phrase is found only in Matthew (13:40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).
e 13:41 His kingdom: the kingdom of the Son of Man is distinguished from that of the Father (Mt 13:43); see 1 Cor 15:24–25. The church is the place where Jesus’ kingdom is manifested, but his royal authority embraces the entire world; see note on Mt 13:38.
f 13:43 See Dn 12:3.
g 13:44–50 The first two of the last three parables of the discourse have the same point. The person who finds a buried treasure and the merchant who finds a pearl of great price sell all that they have to acquire these finds; similarly, the one who understands the supreme value of the kingdom gives up whatever he must to obtain it. The joy with which this is done is made explicit in the first parable, but it may be presumed in the second also. The concluding parable of the fishnet resembles the explanation of the parable of the weeds with its stress upon the final exclusion of evil persons from the kingdom.

II. Old Testament References

[13:43] Deuteronomy 12:3

Sample Homily:
This Sunday the Maronite Church remembers and seeks the intercession of Saint
Sharbel. We know so well the many miracles attributed to his intercession, the holy life
he lived, and the countless numbers of pilgrims from many Christian and non-Christians
religions, that come for peace and inspiration at his shirine in Lebanon, and wherever
his relics are exhibited.
Yet, Saint Sharbel would tell us that none of this is about him and all is about Christ.
He would remind us as St. Paul does today in the Letter to the Romans, that no matter
what we endure for the sake of our faith, that nothing will separate us from the love of
God. That we must be diligent in our prayer, continually growing in our faith through
study of Scripture, attending the Divine Liturgy, reading the Fathers of the Church, and
be attentive to the teachings of the Church. We must not fear any power, for there is no
power greater than God, and there is no advocate for us greater than Jesus and the
the Holy Spirit, the two hands of the Father as St. Ireanaeus wrote, that are always
present doing the will of the Father.
For if we remain faithful to our calling we will not be like the seeds that fell among
the weeds, but will be numbered among the sons and daughters of God, who will rejoice
forever in the splendor of his light and love.