Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 1, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Scripture Text: Matthew 13:36-43

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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel from the Gospel of Matthew recounts Jesus’ explanation to the disciples of the parable of the weeds among the wheat. The parable presents the existence of both good and evil in the world, side by side. The goodness is sown by the Son of Man, a title for Christ, and represents those of faith who strive to as children of the loving LORD through love of the LORD and one another as the LORD has commanded. The weeds, on the other hand, are those who turn away from the LORD’s will for us and instead give into the temptations of the devil, turning away from the LORD and the LORD’s will for us. The fate of the two, the wheat and the weeds is different.

How does this pertain to us today?

Good and evil still exist in our world, side by side, like in the parable. Temptations to turn away from our loving LORD and from loving relationships with our sisters and brothers are as prevalent if not even more intense in the modern world because of the pace of our lives. Christ’s parable is a call to us to remember who we are, who we are created to be, and to live as such, as the daughters and sons of the loving LORD rather than as followers of the evil one.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I acknowledge that evil exists and that temptations to turn away from loving relationships with our LORD and with my sisters and brothers are a true and serious threat to me and to my immortal well-being and life? Do I pray earnestly for help in avoiding temptation whenever possible and in withstanding it when it cannot be avoided?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we come to You this day full of awe at your power and presence in our lives, in our world. We offer our heartfelt praise and genuine thanksgiving for all the goodness in our lives beginning with life itself. We pray for wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and awe so that we might more perfectly discern your will for us, embrace it, and through your graces, seek to live as the daughters and sons You created us to be and as the disciples You call us to be. Grant that daily we will seek to live as You command, loving You with our whole being and loving one another as You have loved us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.