so will it be at the end of the age.”
GOSPEL, Matthew (13: 36-43)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Jesus explains the parable of the Tares to the disciples. This world is the field where the word, sown by Christ, falls like a seed and where it grows, develops, and bears fruit in the hearts of those who accept it with faith. We have to live with good and evil, but we know that the final triumph belongs to the Lord.
This parable touches on the vital options of our existence: what we do and how we live.
Every day we feel the evil inside and around us. We must be very careful not to allow evil to have the last word in our hearts Even though we are aware of our weakness, we must choose good. We need to learn to discern what comes from God (the good seed) and what does not (the tares).
As human and fragile beings, we accept this mystery: The good (wheat) and the evil (tares) growing mixed together, and God, the owner of the harvest, in his infinite patience, waiting until harvest time!
Aware of our belonging to the Kingdom, let us combine our will with that of our spirit and act, offering our growth to the Lord. We must be patient, tolerating the “tares” that also grow around us and without letting ourselves be corrupted, let us ask the Divine Holy Spirit, to be agents of this transformation. When, in all hope at harvest time, protected by Mary whom we daily invoke, we may have the lot of the righteous. “43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
PRAYER
Blessed are you, patient and merciful God, let us know how to assume our own limitations and those of our brothers, as you accept us all. Teach us how to combine industriousness and patience, to overcome inaction and discouragement, knowing how to wait for the seed of the Kingdom to bear fruit in us. Amen.