Tuesday 28th July – Tuesday of week 17 of the year

EN ROUTE OUR HOMELAND

Matthew 13: 36-43

Each time we hear of the death of someone we know, we are stunned; taken aback by the reality that such person’s existence in this world has come to an end. Yet, the truth is that every one of us is on a journey through life and our loved ones who have died have simply completed their track before us.

As Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and darnel in today’s gospel reading, He reminds us that this world is not our home. We are sojourners en route our heavenly homeland. This reminder calls us not to allow ourselves become so comfortable that we forget the temporal nature of our worldly existence. Just as the sower allowed the wheat he had planted and the darnel planted by the evil one to grow together till the harvest, so do we all live side by side, good and evil people alike.

The word “holy” means “to be set apart”. As Christians, we are a people set apart from the world around us to live by the standards of God’s kingdom. By whose standards are you living? In the words of the Credo we profess that “we look forward to the resurrection of the dead and life of the world to come”. Let us truly look forward to our own end by opening ourselves to the grace Christ showers on us in prayers and in the sacraments so that we can “shine like the sun in His kingdom” at the end of our earthly sojourn.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you have called me to live for you in the midst of a corrupt world. Please strengthen me by your grace that I may not lose sight of my call. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 154 – What happens to us when we die?

In death body and soul are separated. The body decays, while the soul goes to meet God and waits to be reunited with its risen body on the Last Day.

HIDE A TREASURE: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Exodus 33: 7-11, 34: 5-9, 28; Psalm 103: 6-13; Mt 13: 36-43