Daily Readings - Tue Jul 31 2018
Jeremiah
17Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.18If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.19Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!20We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.21Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.22Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
Matthew
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on suffering, sin, and the ultimate triumph of God’s justice. The first reading from Jeremiah expresses the prophet’s deep sorrow over the suffering of Judah, which has been devastated by war, famine, and exile. Jeremiah laments the people’s affliction and cries out to God, questioning why He seems to have abandoned them. Yet, even in the midst of despair, there is a glimmer of hope: the prophet acknowledges the sins of the people and pleads for God’s mercy, trusting in His covenant promise.
The Gospel reading from Matthew provides a complementary perspective through Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds. While the first reading focuses on the pain of sin and its consequences, the Gospel offers a vision of patience and ultimate justice. Jesus teaches that the world is a field where good and evil coexist, but at the end of time, God will separate the two. The weeds, representing those who lead others astray, will be cast into the fire, while the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. This parable encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even when evil seems to thrive, and to remain faithful in our own lives.
These readings remind us that suffering and sin are part of our human experience, but they also invite us to hope in God’s justice and mercy. Like Jeremiah, we must acknowledge our sins and turn to God with contrite hearts. Like the disciples, we must trust in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. In our daily lives, let us examine our actions and intentions, striving to be “good seeds” in God’s field. May we cultivate patience, perseverance, and faith, knowing that God’s justice will prevail, and His kingdom will shine forth in all its glory.