Daily Readings
The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
Stand at the gate of the house of the LORD, and there proclaim this message: Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Reform your ways and your deeds, so that I may remain with you in this place. Put not your trust in the deceitful words: “This is the temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!” Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place, or follow strange gods to your own harm, will I remain with you in this place, in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever.
But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss! Are you to steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, go after strange gods that you know not, and yet come to stand before me in this house which bears my name, and say: “We are safe; we can commit all these abominations again”? Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves? I too see what is being done, says the LORD.
PSALM: PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A, 11
Response (R): How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. <R>
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young— Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God! <R>
Blessed they who dwell in your house! continually they praise you. Blessed the men whose strength you are! They go from strength to strength. <R>
I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. <R>
SECOND READING: Ephesians 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13:24-30
At that time: Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Daily Reflection – 27 July 2024
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Like the prophets before and after him, Jeremiah considered morality more important than cult. Following the Lord’s command, he courageously stood at the Temple gates and delivered God’s message condemning those who used the Temple as a place to absolve themselves of all their sins. Jeremiah warned them that they would not be saved by seeking sanctuary in the Temple, nor would their elaborate rituals and chanting buy salvation. It was only faithfulness to the commandments that would save them.
Ironically, we see history repeat itself when Jesus cleansed the Temple saying, “you have made my Father’s house into a den of thieves”.
Despite the wickedness of the evildoers, today’s Gospel reveals the benevolence of God even when they are undeserving. He is patient and tolerant, in the hope that they may be influenced by those who show fidelity to the commandments. This is also a test for the faithful, that they may persevere with good even in the face of evil!
Source: Archdiocese of Mumbai official website (https://www.archdioceseofbombay.org/)