The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072818.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, a 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. He did not panic. 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 weekend. 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 Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
July 28, 2018
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week
in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 400
Lectionary: 400
Reading 1
The
following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
Stand at the gate of the house of the LORD,
and there proclaim this message:
Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah
who enter these gates to worship the LORD!
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
Reform your ways and your deeds,
so that I may remain with you in this place.
Put not your trust in the deceitful words:
"This is the temple of the LORD!
The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!"
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds;
if each of you deals justly with his neighbor;
if you no longer oppress the resident alien,
the orphan, and the widow;
if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place,
or follow strange gods to your own harm,
will I remain with you in this place,
in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever.
But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss!
Are you to steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,
burn incense to Baal,
go after strange gods that you know not,
and yet come to stand before me
in this house which bears my name, and say:
"We are safe; we can commit all these abominations again"?
Has this house which bears my name
become in your eyes a den of thieves?
I too see what is being done, says the LORD.
Stand at the gate of the house of the LORD,
and there proclaim this message:
Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah
who enter these gates to worship the LORD!
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
Reform your ways and your deeds,
so that I may remain with you in this place.
Put not your trust in the deceitful words:
"This is the temple of the LORD!
The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!"
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds;
if each of you deals justly with his neighbor;
if you no longer oppress the resident alien,
the orphan, and the widow;
if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place,
or follow strange gods to your own harm,
will I remain with you in this place,
in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever.
But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss!
Are you to steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,
burn incense to Baal,
go after strange gods that you know not,
and yet come to stand before me
in this house which bears my name, and say:
"We are safe; we can commit all these abominations again"?
Has this house which bears my name
become in your eyes a den of thieves?
I too see what is being done, says the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm PS 84:3, 4,
5-6A AND 8A, 11
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling
place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia JAS 1:21BC
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
13:24-30
Jesus
proposed a parable to the crowds.
"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."'"
"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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