YEAR B: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: THE FATE OF THE SEEDS AND THE WEEDS
BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu
_“They will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire.” *(Matthew 13:41-42)*_
In today’s Gospel passage, we see Jesus explaining the parable of the wheat and the weeds. In this parable, Jesus was not talking about non-Christians neither was he talking about anyone outside the territory of God’s kingdom.
On the day of our baptism, God admitted us into his kingdom and we now answered the name, Christian. However as time went on, satan succeeded in sowing very bad seeds into some of us and instead of bearing fruits, we became weeds (useless plants) growing within that same kingdom of God.
In all honesty, there are some Christians who are a real disgrace to the body of Christ. Not only do they fail to bear the right fruits needed, they prevent other plants from growing normally. These are the weeds that Jesus is talking about who will be gathered and thrown into the furnace of fire at the end of time.
The question we must ask ourselves today is: “Am I a weed in God’s kingdom?” Let us join Jeremiah in today’s first reading to ask for God’s mercy that we may no longer be weeds but good seed.
Today we remember St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus also known as the Jesuits. Ignatius was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannonball shattered his leg.
Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence (healing process in the hospital), he whiled away the time reading the life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began.
Ignatius was a true mystic. He centred his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam —“for the greater glory of God.” He is the Patron of Retreats.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to live a good life. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Jeremiah 14:17-22, Psalm 79:8-13, Matthew 13:36-43).
