Genesis 13:2,
5-18 / Matthew 7:26, 12-14
Abraham and Lot separate; "If you prefer to go left, I'll go right."
Paul Kruger, the great African statesman, lived at the turn of the century. One day he was called upon to divide some land between two feuding brothers. Because the land contained lakes, hills, and mines, he realized that almost any division he would make would be hotly contested. Kruger pondered the problem long and hard upon the perfect solution. He called the brothers together, had one brother divide the land, and then gave the other brother first choice as to which half he wanted.
***
How do we
handle dispute among members of our own family? How do we handle disputes that
involve us, personally? Whenever the poet Carl Sandburg received a
"hate" letter in the mail, he sent a standard reply to the letter's
author: "Dear Madam (or Sir), Thank you for your letter. I shall try to do
better."
***
Lot takes
the rich, fertile plain that will be destroyed, Abraham the stony hills that
his people will possess.
***
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Cyril was born about 376 in Alexandria, Egypt. He became
archbishop when his uncle, the former archbishop, died. During his first years
in the position, he was severe with heretics and other people who caused
trouble for the Christians. Later, he grew in the compassion of Jesus.
Cyril became famous for his action at the Council of
Ephesus. He tried to make the heretic Nestorius understand that Christ was
truly God and man united as one person. He defended the teaching that Mary is
the Mother of God and insisted on calling her Theotokos, a Greek name meaning
“God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” Cyril died in 444. Because of his struggle
with heretics and his forceful writing about doctrine, Cyril was later named a
Doctor of the Church.
***
The land
into which Abram came had already its owners and masters. But soon there was
also a dispute between the herdsmen of Abram and those of his nephew Lot. Abram
showed himself generous to Lot. "Let there be no dispute between you and
me, for we are brothers" [Verse 8]. Not only honesty, but also generosity
is the best policy. This lesson would be valuable even today. Abram had every
reason to be generous: God had promised him the whole land: Abram left to Lot
the most fertile part, the Jordan Valley, which can be irrigated and has
excellent soil. Generosity is especially difficult when there is a quarrel. Abram
was wise. It is wiser to be generous in a quarrel. God blessed him for this.
Not only did he give him the land within sight, but the promise of many
descendants. Abram went to Hebron and settled down at the Oak of Mamre, where
he built an altar. God accepted the sacrifice of a generous giver.
***
The thickness of the human skin varies from 0.5mm to about 4mm. But when we say that someone has thick skin, it does not necessarily mean that the person's skin is exceptionally or unusually thick. Of course it is obvious as to what is meant to call a person thick-skinned. Another phrase that we use in relation to skin is "beauty is only skin deep". It means that no matter how impressive or pretty the looks are, it is only as good or as thick as the skin. Deeper than the skin and going deeper lies the true nature of the person or thing. In the 1st reading, Abram and Lot had to go separate ways in order to avoid a dispute.
Abram being the uncle and the elder, let Lot choose which part of the land he
wished to go to. Lot was probably selfish and thick-skinned enough to go for
the choice lands, but what he was as good as only skin-deep. In fact, there was
danger in where he chose as he settled near Sodom, and the people of Sodom were
vicious men, great sinners against the Lord. Lot has yet to learn the
generosity of Abram, and to treat others as he would like others to treat him.
Let us ask the Lord to soften the hardness and thickness of our hearts so that we will treat others with generosity, and to take that narrow gate and the hard road that leads to life.
***
Three
directives given by Jesus are here put together: Not to throw what is holy to
dogs or feed swine with pearls. Accepting the faith needs a disposition of the
heart; where moral correctness is not present, preaching the holy precious word
of God is fruitless. The golden. rule is here expressed in a positive way: Do
to others what you would like them to do to you. The negative: Don't do to
others, what you do not want them to do to you, was easier. Jesus aims at the
perfect. The question of how many are saved is not answered. It is one of the
mysteries that God did not reveal. Jesus only tells us, "Climb on the
steep hard way and get in by the narrow gate". It may be more difficult,
but it leads us safely to the goal. He is for us both the goals. Christ did not
promise to make life easy. He is for us both the way and the gate.
***
The
moralizing theme of the two ways, familiar to Jewish thought and also to
Christian thinking from the early Church to the present – for example, Ignatian
spirituality – underlies the readings today. Jesus says that there is
an easy and spacious road that leads to perdition and a narrow, arduous road
leading to life. Today’s wealthy countries have created themselves a life of
comfort that is on the way of becoming self-destructive of nature, resources,
and humankind itself. Would greater restraint not allow everyone on earth to
live a life worthy of people, of the sons and daughters of God? Which way is
ours?
***
Prayer
Lord our
God, you ask us through your Son Jesus Christ: which road do you want to take: the
one that is undemanding and effortless, or the road and the gate that are
narrow and difficult and full of obstacles? Lord, whatever road or gate it is, let
it be that of your Son, for he is our Lord for ever. Amen
