Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2

• First Reading – Jeremiah 14:17-22: “For your name’s sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not.”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 79: “For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.”
• Gospel – Matthew 13:36-43: “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.”

Reflection

In today’s gospel, we hear the parable of wheat and weeds explained by Jesus. He tells us of a stark reality. The end is coming for all of us. Now is the time to grow like wheat. We must strive to grow closer to the Lord.

The weeds are all around me. They distract me from my daily prayer. They tell me I am too busy to help my neighbor today. I will do it tomorrow or the next day instead. They call me to seek my own glory instead of giving glory to God. I must not let theses weeds choke out my true identity. I am a child of the Kingdom.

Prayer

Lord, help me to make space in my life for your word to grow in my heart. Teach me to nourish and grow what is from you. Help me to resist any desire to let the weeds of the enemy take hold in me. I cannot do it on my own. I am dependent on your mercy. Amen.

Word On Fire: More about the Parable of Wheat and Weeds

From Bishop Robert Barron. In our Gospel today, we hear the parable of wheat and weeds explained by Jesus. God’s word creates the Church, the community of those who strive to build up the kingdom. But this Church is never absolutely pure and untrammeled, for God’s ways are opposed by a spiritual power, an enemy. His task is to sow weeds among the wheat—clandestinely, quietly, unobtrusively.

USCCB Reflection: We Are Wheat and Weeds

Many of the parables in the 13th chapter of Matthew have to do with planting seed. Today we hear the parable of wheat and weeds explained by Jesus We all wonder if we are wheat or weeds. But perhaps there is wheat and weeds in all of us. Which one do we embrace and nourish?