Thursday 3 August 2023

Today is Thursday the 3rd of August, in the 17th week of Ordinary time.

The Kyiv Chamber Choir sings 'In Thy Kingdom' from One Thousand Years Of Ukrainian Sacred Music.

(Lyrics currently unavailable)

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.


Matthew 13:47-53

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.


Once again Jesus talks about the final judgement. His words contain both invitation and warning. How do his words strike you with regard to yourself? Can you identify the good and the bad fish in your own life? What do you want to say to Jesus about this?

Jesus speaks of being ‘trained for the kingdom of heaven’. What do you understand by this? Can you identify what is new and what is old within the treasure of your own life? Perhaps there are gifts or graces you want to ask for as a child of God’s kingdom.

Listen to the reading again and see what words particularly strike you today. As they take hold, where do you find the words leading you?

However these words have spoken to you, take time to speak to God, sharing whatever is in you in your mind and heart.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.