Reading 1 Jer 14:17-22
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.
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.
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?
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.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
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
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 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.”
"JESUS WEPT" (see Lk 19:41)
"Let my eyes stream with tears day and night." –Jeremiah 14:17
Many people couldn't care less about the condition of the world, the state of the Church, the destruction of human lives, the breakdown of marriage and family, etc. They just stare at the TV and try to escape from reality through constant indulgence in petty pleasures. We should love the Lord and other people enough to pray: "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" (Jer 14:17).
When Jesus saw people weakened and lost, His heart was moved with pity (Mt 9:36). Jesus cared enough to die on the cross to change this world. As His followers, we should care, too. Because Jesus is Lord and is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16), we should not be depressed. However, we should care enough to cry and live lives of love. If done in love, every act of our lives is precious and powerful. We must not "spend what remains" of our earthly lives "on human desires but on the will of God" (1 Pt 4:2). If we care enough to cry, we will be spared on Judgment Day (see Ez 9:4), and we may hasten the time for the Lord to have pity on us and set us free (see Ps 102:14-15).
When Jesus saw Jerusalem, He wept (Lk 19:41). When we see our world today, should we do anything less? There is hope. There is always hope, for Jesus is Lord. However, hope will be fulfilled only for those who care enough to cry. Love, cry, live, die, and live forever in Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Father, "love never fails" (1 Cor 13:8). I accept Your grace to live a life of love for and in You. May I live, weep, rejoice, die, and rise in love. |
| PROMISE: | "Then the saints will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let everyone heed what he hears!" –Mt 13:43 |
| PRAISE: | Sts. Joachim & Ann taught their daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the love of the Lord. |
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