This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations, other relevant scriptures, and meditations on the principles raised by today’s readings. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us about something God wants us to do. Text in red tells describes what God wants us to avoid. Commentary is in blue.
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.
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.
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?
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.
You alone have done all these things.
R. (9) 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.
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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
Jesus is the source of all good and desires good for us.
The sad, unavoidable, fact is that the Devil desires the opposite and actively tries to thwart the good Jesus desires/sows. Some folks side with the Devil and aid him in his efforts.
At some point Jesus will undo the effects of their efforts.
We will then fully manifest the goodness Jesus planted in us, we “will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” That sounds a lot like what is described in Colossians 3:1-4.
So what do we do in the meantime?
- Do not lose sight of the fact that Jesus will ultimately deliver and fulfill us.
- Focus on growing into the best crop we can be, in spite of the weeds around us. That, rather than the weeds, should be our focus. Psalm 37 provides some great guidance on this.
- As described in today’s first reading, we should recognize, confess, and repent of our own sin. That will help us grow into what Jesus wants from us; that’s why He gave us the sacrament of reconciliation. See A good confession is like restarting your computer, Confession is a Lot Like Weeding,Confession also seems to be a lot like composting, and the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles—Confessing Sin.
- As exemplified by today’s psalm, pray for God’s mercy. He is more than able to help us through whatever we face and promises to give us wisdom for dealing with the hard things around us. See 1 Corinthians 10:13and James 1:5. See also Another Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: Seeking God’s Mercy.
the glory of your name
your compassion
the glory of your name
the glory of your name
the glory of your name
He who sows good seed is the Son of Man
the good seed the children of the Kingdom
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
the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you
Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look?
Whoever has ears ought to hear
Whoever has ears ought to hear
cause others to sin
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