The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072317.cfm)
reminds me that God is always in control.
In
life, there are a lot if situations that catch us off guard. No matter how well
and how intensive and exhaustive you plan and prepare, there are still
surprises that can happen. Scenarios you did not think of. And during these
times, reactions of people vary. We usually cannot think normally when these
things happen. Good thing this does not happen to God.
In the gospel, we see the enemy
planting weeds in the farmer’s field that was planted with good seed. However,
when the farmer saw it, he did not had it immediately cut out, even if he knew
it was from the enemy. Instead, he gave time for the weed and the wheat to
grow, then when the time was right, he separated them from each other and
burned the weed.
What
a way to remind us that God is always in control.
God does not panic. When he saw
the weeds, he knew it was the enemy’s work. However, he knew pulling them out
at once might affect those wheat who are still growing their roots. It may look
like he was not in control because the enemy was able to plant weeds which
grew. For that instance, probably doesn’t look like it. However, we see that in
the end, he was in full control, and he burned the weeds and the wheat were
able to grow fully.
God is in control of our lives.
Sometimes we may not feel like it. Sometimes we may only see the weeds.
Sometimes we fail to focus on the growing wheat and only see the annoying weed
and say that God is not in control. We may see evil people prospering, we may
see them being rich and powerful. We sometimes focus on them, and fail to see
God slowly working in people who are developing their roots, on people ready
and willing to bear fruit for him. He gives us time to develop and serve him.
however, when the time comes, he will come and separate the weed from the
productive wheat. That is what we should look forward to.
Do I
know that God is in control of my life and of everything? Do I focus on the
enemy and the seemingly powerful weeds in my life and in the world? Am I afraid
of them,? Do I lose faith on God? Am I willing to wait until I grow in faith
and produce fruits for him? Am I excited when he comes to separate the weeds
from the wheat?
May we always remember that no
matter what the situation is, God is always in control.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank
you for reminding me that you are in control, even if sometimes, it does not
look like it. Lord, sorry for not always thinking this. Sorry if I doubt you,
your love, and your power. Sorry for being easily overwhelmed. I ask that I
always trust in you and that I always focus on you, even if there are seemingly
powerful and annoying weeds around me. May I trust that you are allowing us to
grow roots and enable us to withstand the weeds in our lives. Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
July 23, 2017
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 106
Reading 1WIS 12:13, 16-19
that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For your might is the source of justice;
your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.
For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;
and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,
and with much lenience you govern us;
for power, whenever you will, attends you.
And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins.
Responsorial PsalmPS 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
You, O LORD, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O LORD,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.
Turn toward me, and have pity on me;
give your strength to your servant.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
Reading 2ROM 8:26-27
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will.
AlleluiaCF. MT 11:25
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 13:24-43
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened
to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.'
His slaves said to him,
'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
"First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
He proposed another parable to them.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'"
He spoke to them another parable.
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened."
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.
Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as 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 who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."
OrMT 13:24-30
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.'
His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
"First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
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