July 30, 2019 Tuesday,
17th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Ex 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 28
Gospel: Mt 13:36–43
Jesus sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the Kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil; the harvest is the end of time and the workers are the angels.“Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And these will be thrown in the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
God is patient with sinners because he treats them as would a doctor his wounded patients. A line from Othello is thought provoking. “What wound did ever heal but by degrees?” wrote Shakespeare (Othello). If ordinary wounds take time to heal, all the more spiritual wounds need time to recover. The parable of the sower showcases God’s patience with sinners. In said parable the master ordered the weeds pulled out from among the wheat. But the master showed liberality towards the weeds. The reason for the liberality was to protect the wheat from being pulled accidentally. But when we consider God’s fundamental option for sinners, another reason stands out: God hopes that one day the sinner, represented by the weeds, will repent.
Not all kinds of sinners can take shelter under God’s magnanimity. He can be stern towards those who have greater understanding of his teachings. If we look closely at how the parable is constructed, there is a shift from liberality to sternness as the parable ends with this scary warning: “Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time” (Matt.13:24-30). This calls our attention to the greater punishment awaiting those who have greater gifts of faith. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus said, “The servant who knows what his master wants but has not even started to carry out those wishes will receive very many strokes of the lash. (Luke 12:47-48).
Let us not abuse God’s patience. Let us resolve instead to return to the righteous path today in his grace.If we do, our dark past will no longer matter to God. For a sinner who falls but rises up once more is closer to God than ever before. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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