24th July 2021 – 16th Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Reading: Ex 24:3-8
Ps: 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15
Gospel: Mt 13: 24-30.
STANDING BEFORE GOD WITH A RICH HARVEST
Today Jesus speaks about seeds and weeds. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a person who sows good seed in a field. The good seed represents people who listen to God’s word and respond to it.
While everyone is asleep an enemy comes and sows weeds amidst the wheat. The two plants are identical before they mature but as they grow the difference becomes visible in the fruits. The ears of the wheat are heavy and will droop, while the ears of the weeds stand up straight.
In this allegory, the one who sows the good seed is Jesus, the field is the world, and the good seeds are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels” (13:37-39). This parable deals with the reality of opposition and evil, in the world and in our spiritual life. In the end, God and those faithful to him will conquer.
We can draw three lessons from this parable:
Firstly, we need to keep our eyes open for the weeds. These capture our attention and give us tentative pleasure. If we are not vigilant, we will fall prey to the poison of the devil.
Secondly, we need to be patient as God is patient. Patience teaches us to guard the word that God has planted in our hearts and to protect it from the destructive forces of sin and evil.
And thirdly, this passage teaches us that one day we will have to stand before God and give an account of our lives. God will separate the evil from the good and reward each according to what they have sown and reaped in this life.
May we give priority to Christ as St Augustine puts it: “Christ is not valued at all unless he is valued above all.” Amen
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