Tuesday, August 1, 2006
17th Week in Ordinary Time
Alphonsus Liguori



THE FIELD OF THE WORLD

Jer 14:17-22; Ps 79:8,9,11 &13; Matthew 13:36-43


Daily Gospel

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
sower and lover of all that is good,
we are the times impatient
about the human weaknesses
of your Church and its leaders and members.
Help us not to condemn too easily
but to look at our own defects,
and to work with all our might
to reveal in us and in your Church
the genuine face of Jesus,
by the strength of your own Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

Introduction to the First Reading

We hear the prayer of the people - a prayer probably composed by Jeremiah himself - appealing to God in time of war and famine. It is like a penitential celebration expressing trust in the Lord and the hope to be spared.

First Reading: Jer 14:17-22

Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you alone, O LORD,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone have done all these things.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 79:8,9,11 &13

R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Introduction to Gospel Reading

Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds. Good and evil will always coexist in the Church and in the world, until God's good time comes. The word of the Lord should perhaps help us to be patient and understanding with the all too human aspects of the Church of the past and of our day. The good will ultimately triumph; we have this assurance, while we already work in the present to purify the Church and ourselves.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:36-43

       Jesus sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He answered them, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the Kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil; the harvest is the end of time and the workers are the angels.

        Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And these will be thrown in the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear."

Commentary

The prophet (and God) weeps over the destruction of the people. They were warned repeatedly and to no avail. Has God cast them off completely? Finally the people see what their wickedness has brought upon them. Jeremiah pleads for God's mercy once again for them.

And Jesus explains to his disciples inner meanings that they cannot understand because they are closed to his words. He, the Son of Man, the suffering servant is the sower, and the seed is the Word of God, and all too often once it is sown, there are those who are intent on destroying it, sowing dissension and injustice into the field. But there will be a judgment on all and there will be a reckoning and weeding out. We are to heed what Jesus says.

 

General Intercessions

- That intimate prayer to the Lord may lighten up our faces and our lives, we pray:

- That however humble our task in the Church, the Spirit of the Lord may give us the courage to speak our for what is right and good, we pray:

- That we may not usurp God's task of separating the weeds from the wheat in the Church, but leave the judgment to him, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
for the sake of your covenant
we pray you for the bread of strength
of your Son Jesus Christ.
Let him cure us from all our ills
and lead us to you, our God,
who are our hope and trust
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you want us to be with you
sowers of goodness in this world,
of hope and peace, of freedom and joy.
Use us as we are,
with our assets and faults,
that we may share in the passion
and resurrection of your Son
and bring this world to a new birth
through him who is our Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

God lets his sun shine on good and bad alike. We are not the judges of the Church or of the world: let God do the judging. Pray that he keep us faithful. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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