Readings: Jeremiah 7:1-11; Psalm 84; Matthew 13:24-30
I still have the catechism we used in school over fifty years ago, 'approved by the archbishops and bishops of Ireland', with the imprimatur of John Charles McQuaid given on 2 February 1951. As in all catechisms since the Council of Trent the doctrinal part follows the articles of the Creed and the moral part is organised according to the commandments of God and of the Church. Among the sins forbidden by the first commandment of God are those against the theological virtue of hope summarised in three short questions and answers: 202. What are the sins against hope? The sins against hope are despair and presumption. 203. What is despair? Despair is the refusal to trust in God for the graces necessary for salvation. 204. What is presumption? Presumption is a foolish expectation of salvation without making use of the means necessary to obtain it.
The readings of today's Mass invite us to reflect on this virtue of hope since the first reading, from Jeremiah, is a warning against presumption, and the gospel reading we can take as an encouragement not to despair. All who regard themselves as specially chosen by God run the risk of one day presuming on that choice and thinking that they no longer need to bear the fruits appropriate to it. It is what is happening in Jeremiah's time and he sees what is coming as a result of the people losing contact with reality. No point, he says, in taking your stand on your election, running to the temple, and assuming that all will be fine. What is needed is a thorough reform of your ways and your deeds. The Lord is not impressed with your presumption. Rather what he wants to see is just action towards the migrant and the poor, that you give up adultery, lying and stealing, that you turn away from false gods, that you cut through the false persona you have made for yourselves to live in the light of the truth once again.
Jeremiah lives up to his name as a prophet of doom and despair. But the gospel reading about the wheat and the weeds being left to grow together until the harvest is a gospel of hope at least in the sense that there is still time. Yes, the weeds are allowed to grow along with the wheat, that is an interesting fact in itself and worthy of reflection. The weeds are not halted in their growth until the harvest, they are allowed to go on growing until the harvest. Does it mean evil too will increase as the kingdom is more strongly established? It seems so. But there is time for the thorough reform Jeremiah calls for. And the basis on which that reform can be carried through is not anything we will find in ourselves but is precisely God. That's what a theological virtue always has as its direct object and if we continue to hope in anything less than God we are not yet exercising this particular virtue.
My old catechism answer puts it this way: 'trust in God for the graces necessary for salvation'. And don't be foolish enough to presume on your salvation if you are not making use of the means necessary to obtain it. Between the two readings then comes this call to live in hope, a gift of God's grace which enables us to negotiate our way wisely between presumption on the one side and despair on the other. Just like Peter trying to walk on the water we need to keep our eyes fixed on God. If we allow ourselves to dwell on anything else, whether our own sins or our own righteousness, then we are in danger of sinking.
My old catechism also included 'A Short Act of Hope': O my God! I hope in you for all the graces that I need for my eternal salvation and for heaven itself, because you are infinitely powerful, good and merciful and because you are faithful to your word.
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