August 1, 2006
Memorial, St. Alphonsus de Ligouri, bishop & doctor
Tuesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
JEREMIAH 14:17-22
Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, Over the
great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those
slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by
hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have
you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no
avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O
LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned
against you. For your name's sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne
of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Among
the nations' idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere
heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we
look? You alone have done all these things.
MATTHEW 13:36-43
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples
approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the
field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the
field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The
weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is
the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are
angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it
be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they
will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all
evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there
will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine
like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to
hear."
REFLECTION
In the Gospel today, the son of man sows good seed in the field of the
world, which produces the children of the Kingdom. The devil sows bad
seeds, which in turn produces evildoers. At the end of time, angels
will remove from the kingdom all evildoers and the righteous will shine
in the kingdom of our Father.
In very clear terms today's readings remind us that God welcomes the
good but punishes the evil. Perhaps, our first reaction to today's
readings is fear of God and of his omnipotent power and majesty. It
would appear that God is presenting us with an ultimatum: Be good
otherwise he will use his power to punish us.
But inasmuch as today's readings remind us of God's power as an
incentive for us to become better people, we should view today's
readings as an encouragement rather than a threat.
After all, did God not appear to Moses and have a face-to-face talk
with him? Did Jesus not speak to his disciples as friends? God
described his awesome power, authority and justice in intimate and
personal conversations with his people.
The content of today's message is that of the authority and power of
God; the context of today's message is that of confidence and
encouragement for us to simply follow him.
