16th Ordinary Sunday (Year A)

The gospel reading today is a collection of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven recorded in Matthew 13:24-43. There are the parable of wheat and weeds, the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven. Moreover, Matthew explains the parable of wheat and weeds. It explains the problem of evils in the world. Philosophers and atheists like to challenge the Christian belief of an almighty and benevolent God. They argue that the existence of evils proves that either God is not powerful enough to stop human sufferings or God is not benevolent enough to relieve them. Either way, the Christian conception of God is wrong. To answer this challenge, Matthew had recorded Jesus' parable of wheat and weeds and its explanation (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). The demons (ὁ διάβολος) were the source of evils. [note: Satan was not mentioned.] When the servants suggest the householder root out the weeds, he rejects this proposal.
But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them (Matthew 13:29).
Good parents can produce bad children and vice versa. Human relations are intricate beyond human understanding. The ramification is huge. The effects of unplugging a node are difficult to assess. The simplest and most reasonable arrangement seems to be allowing each to run his full course. In the end, God will settle the account with you. This logic goes very well with the Chinese philosophy. 「善不積不足以成名，惡不積不足以滅身。」【易‧繫辭下】We will accumulate goodness and evil in this life until the end. The result will be judged accordingly.
This morning, Fr. Patrick Sun focused on the parable of the mustard seed instead. We have a tendency to underestimate the little things. We give up doing some good deeds because they are so insignificant. They don't matter much. Similarly, we excuse ourselves for committing some petty crimes because they are so minor. They don't matter much. He reminded us of a Chinese saying which taught the same truth as the parable of the mustard seed. 「勿以惡小而為之，勿以善小而不為。」【三國志‧蜀‧先主傳】Many saintly people of the Catholic Church, John Bosco, Mother Teresa etc., began their mission in a tiny, insconspicuous and insignificant way. They were satisfied as long as they were following Christ' teaching in the gospel. In the end, a lot of people have benefited from their charity work. So, let us not give ourselves excuses not to do good, however insignificant it seems.
It's time again for some comparisons of translations. Jesus spoke to people in parables. Matthew explains once more that this use of parable was yet another fulfillment of prophecy! It is a Matthean characteristic to reassure his Jewish readers that whatever happened to Jesus was actually a fulfillment of prophecy!
All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable.
This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet:
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the
world." (Matthew 13:34-35)
It was a quotation from Psalm 78:2. Let's take a look at the Greek.
ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·
ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, ἐρεύξομαι κεκρυμμένα ἀπὸ καταβολῆς [κόσμου].
This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:35)
ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, φθέγξομαι προβλήματα ἀπ̓ ἀρχῆς.
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter riddles from the beginning. (Psalm 77:2 LXX)
For comparison, take a look at a translation from the Hebrew MT.
I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old (Psalm 78:2 MT)
Obviously, the first half of the verse leaves little room for ambiguity. However, the second half can be rendered in different manners. It seems that Matthew has freely translated it himself without consulting Septuagint. Matthew is a rich source of OT quotations. After collecting enough passages, I hope to trace an outline of OT quotations in NT.

My dear Advocate, I pray that we persevere in our doing good, however insignificant it looks. May Your Kingdom come. May our little speeches and actions bear witness to Your majestic glory. Amen.