“There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that
you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For you might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things
makes you lenient to all. For you show
your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who
know you, you rebuke temerity. But
though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience
you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground
for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.”
Second reading: Rom. 8:26-27
“Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our
weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself
intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the
Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.”
Gospel reading: Mt. 13: 24-30 (Short form) [Long version: continues until verse 43]
“Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: ‘The
kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his
field. While everyone was asleep his
enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the seeds
appeared as well. The slaves of the
householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your
field? Where have the weeds come
from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done
this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you
want us to go and pull them up?’ He
replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with
them. Let them grow together until
harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the
weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’’”In the first reading we have a clear expression of how necessary it is to conform our lives morally to God’s ways. God’s power is so complete that it makes him merciful and kind by providing the space of time for repentance. But for those who neglect to repent and conform, it will be clear that God was just in condemning them. In the gospel reading we have the parable of the wheat and the weeds, which is an end of the age parable that relates to the judgment of those who persisted in their sins. The second reading gives assurance of God’s Spirit for assistance to those who strive for holiness in life.
Reflection:
In the long version of this gospel reading the apostles ask
the Lord to explain the parable of the wheat and the weeds, in which the Lord
proceeds to indicate that the weeds represent those who cause or lead others to
sin. It does very little good to soften
the meaning of a parable as it relates to us in our day and age, especially
when it relates to the details of our judgment.
Therefore, this reflection will be specific in its implications of those
who cause or lead others to sin.
When one examines our society, it doesn’t take long to
identify who, or rather what, is responsible for influencing others to
disregard the standard of God’s morality in favor sinning as if to rewrite the
rules of conduct. Our culture of
entertainment, or more specifically those individuals who use their fame to advance
values that contradict God’s will for us.
These contrary values have all but overshadowed traditional principals
of morality in our day and age.
These people are those weeds. Don’t be deceived by the popular trends of
our culture. This time will come to an
end and when it does those who resisted those sinful values will shine like the
stars of heaven, so be strong! Hold
out! Fight the good fight so that you
can be counted among the holy ones.
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