Tuesday 28 July

Today is Tuesday the 28 July, in the 17th week of Ordinary Time.

Salt of the Sound sing, ‘Your Ways’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 13:36-43  

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed 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. Just as the 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 causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!  

Jesus gives a detailed explanation here of one of his parables. He uses it as a way of thinking about the final judgement. It’s a challenging picture! What’s your first response when you hear it today?  

The parable seems to assume that the world can be divided neatly into ‘evildoers’ and ’the righteous’. How does that fit with your own experience?    

At the start of this passage, the disciples ask Jesus to explain a parable. As you listen again, imagine how they might react to what they are hearing.  

Whether you see yourself as one of the righteous, or one of the evildoers, or somewhere in between, speak to God now about what you’ve heard in these words.

Using the Suscipe Prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola:

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.