14th Sunday Ordinary Time – “Come to me, all who are weary…”

I’ll lead into the post of my homily by highlighting two key words that I found just fascinatingly different from what I expected.  Here is the first.

“Come to me…” The Greek, deuete, is most often translated, “Come!” There is one exception that seems interesting and that leads into an informed guess…

Matthew 4:18f            18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

Jesus said, “Come, and I will make you fish for…”  Seems to me that this makes the Sunday gospel a call to discipleship in the midst of challenging times for Jesus.  He had just excoriated the towns of Bethsaida and Choradzin about their lack of response to him.  The crowds followed, but few were becoming disciples. 

So, Jesus called the disciples who, like us today, fear entering fully onto his path.  “Come to me… learn from me…”  The deal is that Andrew and Peter left the wrong nets!  (consult the Greek text – 2 words for “nets!”)  Discipleship referred then and refers today to the humiliation of having to keep learning. 

Matthew 22:4f            Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business…

Though addressed to the scribes & Pharisees, this parable speaks to disciples-on-the-fence: “Come to the banquet…”  Sorry, J., I’m going here and there & have these other things to do…”  Nevertheless, the invitation is still there. 

Matthew 25:34f            Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…

Seems to me that this points to the fulfillment of walking as disciples behind Jesus.  “Come… inherit!”  Those burdened and weary found rest in Jesus and were able to reach out to others more burdened than themselves. 

The trajectory seems probable.