Daily Readings - Tue Jul 30 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the interplay between suffering, sin, and the ultimate triumph of God's justice. In Jeremiah, we hear a heartfelt lament over the suffering of Judah, a consequence of their sins. The prophet intercedes, acknowledging their wrongdoing and pleading for mercy, trusting in God's covenant. This context is set amidst the turmoil of the Babylonian exile, where the people endure affliction and famine, prompting a cry for healing and peace.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the weeds, which he explains to his disciples. This parable illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment. Jesus assures us that while evil may currently thrive, God's justice will ultimately prevail, separating the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age. This teaching emphasizes trust in God's plan and the importance of remaining faithful amidst life's challenges.
These readings remind us that we live in a world where good and evil coexist. Jeremiah's plea for mercy and Jesus' parable encourage us to examine our lives for sin and to repent. They call us to trust in God's justice, knowing that He will bring about righteousness in His time. As we navigate our daily lives, may we remain vigilant, steadfast in our faith, and hopeful in God's promise of ultimate redemption.