Daily Reflection – 7/30/19
Sacred Scripture
Jesus dismissed the crowds and 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.”(Matthew 13: 36-43)
Reflection
None of us can deny that there is evil among us. Sometimes there is even evil within us. In today’s world, sometimes it seems as if evil is rampant.
Do we sit around waiting for the end of the world leaving it to God to sort it all out, or do we stand against evil and injustice? Certainly, as Christians, we must face the evil within. We do this individually and within our support systems; but what are we to do about evil in the world?
Doing nothing about evil and injustice is not a Christian way of following Christ. Supporting the powerful at the expense of the poor and the outcast is as useless and poisonous as the weed of which Jesus spoke.
Jesus calls upon us to pursue justice for the poor and demand righteousness from the powerful (Matthew 28:19). There are only two groups: children of the kingdom and children of the devil. We are called to be children of the kingdom.
We are called to work for peace and justice. We are called to be good stewards of the environment. We are called to protect the poor, the sick, the marginalized, and the outcast.
When it comes to whether or not we are on God’s team, and whether or not we will be bound for heaven, the choice is ours. We can either say yes to God’s plan and live our life totally for Him; or we can say no, and choose to live our life for ourselves. That’s up to us.
As Christians we need to consider the consequences of our actions. How much more do we need to consider actions of the world around us? We cannot retreat into our homes and slam the door. The door does not shut out the evil in the world. We can’t protect our children if the world in which they live is full of discord and hate. We can’t profess to be followers of Christ if we fail to stand up for His teachings!
We must take a close look at the fruit of our actions. It’s not about bringing more people into the fold. It’s about bringing more people into the kingdom of heaven, a place where the meek inherit the earth and the persecuted own the kingdom. [Matthew 5:5 and 10]
The assurance of Christ that there will be a final judgment gives Christians both soberness and joy in living our lives. We know our efforts are not in vain. We realize that this life is the opportunity the Father gives us to do good and prepare for our great destiny with him. God will more than recompense us for the sacrifices we make in following his will and promoting goodness in the world.
Prayer of The Day
Lord, help me remember I am meant to be wheat in the Kingdom. My job is to grow and bear fruit. Help me to persevere, so that I can take my place with others to gradually let goodness triumph. Help me to not be discouraged when weeds seem all around. Let me trust You to always be in charge of YOUR Kingdom
Daily Note
In the day of judgment each of us will reap what he or she has sown in this life. Those who sow good will shine in the kingdom of their Father. They will radiate with the beauty, joy, and fullness of God’s love. There is only one question that should matter . . . do we allow the love of Christ to rule in our hearts and in our actions?
