Yes indeed the Lord our God is merciful, loving, patient and kind. He is the purest form of love. In His great love for us, He has given us His children free will to choose whether or not to love Him and live in His love. When we choose to stray from Him, He gently urges us to come back to Him, for left to our devices the consequences of our actions will only lead us to certain death. There is however a time limit!
Think of it this way…….. When there is a lightning storm outside, the Lord urges to stay inside with Him where it is safe and warm. When it is bright and sunny, we can go outside and bask in His love for in our faithfulness and obedience He walks with us. However if we choose to play outside in the lightning storm and refuse to heed His warnings to turn back to Him, then we will have to face the consequences of our choice which could ultimately lead to an untimely demise. Our decision and consequence thereafter will be final.
Jesus I choose life with You, now and forever. Amen
First reading
Jeremiah 14:17-22
We confess our wickedness; you, God, are our hopeThe Lord said to me:Say this word to the people:
‘Tears flood my eyes night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury.
If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city,
I see people sick with hunger; even prophets and priests plough the land: they are at wit’s end.’‘Have you rejected Judah altogether?
Does your very soul revolt at Zion?
Why have you struck us down without hope of cure?
We were hoping for peace – no good came of it!
For the moment of cure – nothing but terror!
Lord, we do confess our wickedness and our fathers’ guilt: we have indeed sinned against you.
For your name’s sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory.
Remember us; do not break your covenant with us. Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain?
Can the heavens produce showers? No, it is you, Lord. O our God, you are our hope,
since it is you who do all this.’
Gospel
Matthew 13:36-43
As the darnel is gathered up and burnt, so it will be at the end of timeLeaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’
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