Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 1, 2024

Date: Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time/Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Scripture Text:  Matthew 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad, they throw away. Thus, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today recounts Jesus’ third parable about the Kingdom of heaven (the first two were the buried treasure and the pearl of great price). The point Jesus makes is that both the righteous and unrighteous populate the world, but at the time of judgment, they will be separated. Then Jesus speaks of the offerings of a Christian teacher (scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom) who has knowledge of the law and prophets (the old) but also of Christ (the new) who is the fulfillment of these.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I trying with all my might to live the righteous life I am called to live?

Praying:

LORD, You created me and You call me to yourself and to life in abundance with You. And yet You give me the freedom to respond with love and surrender to your will. Send your Spirit to bolster my will to choose that which I long for eternally over that which I crave in the moment. Strengthen my resolve to live the life You call to live so that I might have life in You, with You and through You now and forever. Amen.