The Weeds and the Wheat

First Reading: Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28
Psalm: Ps 103:6-13 -- The Lord is kind and merciful
Gospel: Mt 13:36-43

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. - Matthew 13:41-42

Friends,

A very common objection to Christianity goes something like this: "If God is so powerful, why doesn't He destroy evil immediately, or prevent it from harming us if He loves us?" There are variations all over, with some of the most vehement coming from those who refuse to believe that a loving God would let people go to Hell. After all, they argue, if He loved us, then He wouldn't punish us forever for the little grievances we cause.

In today's gospel reading, Jesus explains to us why suffering exists in our world. When humanity was made, we were put into a pristine place for growing; the Master had planted good seed in a good field(see Genesis 1:31). However, the Enemy crept in and sowed the weeds of his malice, bitterness and spite among us. The Master tells his servants not to uproot the weeds, because in doing so, it would destroy the wheat (us humans). They must grow together for a time, so that a good harvest is possible (the maximum number of people saved). The bad was not intended, but now that it is here, it cannot be removed without destroying much that could be saved.

Jesus tells us that the wheat is the children of God and that the weeds are the children of the Evil One. When one looks at wheat and weed, it is easy to note the differences of the mature plants from one another. That is to say, it is easy to tell human from devil and so they can easily be separated. It is also of note what a weed does: it takes water and nutrients from the surrounding plants, but does not provide fruit or grain. This will cause the wheat that it surrounds to wither, or not bear good grain. So too with us. If we allow the demons to surround us and intertwine their "roots" with ours, then we will be choked and wither; the chaff will not bear fruit and will be cast into the fire with the weeds.

Finally, it is important for us to note carefully the words of Jesus: "they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers." The first listed are the those who draw others into sin. Their punishment is also crystal clear. This is a warning to us. We must do all that we can not to lead others into sin, either through our actions or our witness. If we choose to be among the good wheat, we must not get comfortable with the weeds.

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - Matthew 18:6

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for your teachings, and for revealing to us your love. Lord, as we grow, help us to be as the good wheat, which resists the weeds and bears good fruit. Grant that we might not be lost among the weeds at the harvest, but be gathered back you you. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Idolatry

First Reading: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34
Psalm: Ps 106:19-23 -- Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
Gospel: Mt 13:31-35

You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.
They said to me, 'Make us a god to be our leader; as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ - Exodus 32:22-23

Friends,

A friend of mine once stated, "The Israelites must be the stupidest people in history. They had signs from God almost every day and they still wouldn't follow him." At the time, I didn't have much to say to him about it, as the problem vexed me as well. How could a people who had seen the wonders God had done for them (he had spoken to them directly only a few weeks prior) turn away from Him so quickly?

As we've looked at before, many people say that if they were to see the miracles of God that they would believe in him. However, we have also seen what the people said and did when those miracles actually occurred in their midst. Throughout the old and new testaments, there are examples of how great works were done when the people cried out to God, and then many of those same people forgot very quickly what the Lord had done for them and went back to their old habits. After the death of Joshua, in the time of the Judges, the people continue to go up to the "high places" to sacrifice to foreign gods. In the time of the kings, Solomon began to worship the gods of his heathen wives, Manasseh undid many of the reforms of Hezekiah (his father) and many other, far worse things (see 2 Chronicles 33:1-10).

In our own time, we don't seem to do much better than the Israelites. Idolatry is, sadly, still alive and well. Worship of money, television and other items in our lives. Some of us let science slip in to take the place of God, hoping that it will save us. Others place their hope in human laws, determined that their viewpoint be recognized. In some places, people demand that their own image be worshipped; that they be viewed as a god. Idolatry is the worship of anything but the one True God, so examples abound.

However, it is also important to note the actions of Moses immediately after the golden calf incident. Just before today's reading, God seems set to destroy the Israelites for their hardness of heart, but Moses pleads that they be spared. Later, after he sees for himself what the Israelites have done, he goes back up to speak with the Lord, begs forgiveness for the people and asks that he be able to stand with his people, whatever their punishment may be. In this, we see an image of Christ. Through our actions, we incite the wrath of God, but Jesus, who has not committed our sins, stands with us and takes the punishment we should have had.

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for being merciful to us, despite our wanderings and failings. Lord, help us to recognize when something is competing with you for our worship, or if we cannot, then send someone to wake us up to the dangers of idolatry. Grant that we may always place you at the center of our lives, that we might worship you forever in the banquet of Heaven. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Top Ten

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17
Psalm: Ps 19:8-11 -- Lord, you have the words of everlasting life
Gospel: Mt 13:18-23

Friends,

To do a commentary on the Ten Commandments is a much larger project than could ever be encompassed, let alone by our little signs. We will do but a small look, with the help of the Catechism. There is a large section of the CCC dedicated to the Decalogue (over 100 pages!), all of it which is beautiful to read and packed with wisdom.

I. I AM the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. (CCC 2084-2132)
- This commandment contains quite a lot. We are to have faith in the Lord our God. We are to put Him first. We are to avoid attempts to take His place with superstitions or divination. We must remember that He is the Lord, regardless of whether we acknowledge Him or even recognize His existence.

It is written: "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve." - Matthew 4:10

II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (CCC 2142-2159)
- Do you not find it odd when someone, not a Christian, calls upon God when they are hurt or upset? They do this because there is power in the name of the Lord, though they know it not. This commandment tells us that we are to have respect for God. We are to avoid making oaths, when a simple yes or no will do, and we must honor the oaths that we commit ourselves to.

III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day. (CCC 2168-2188)
- We, as humans, tend to have one of two mindsets: either we wish to be busy and wear ourselves ragged with work, or else we are lazy and avoid work altogether. The rest of the sabbath day is to remind us that we are to work, and we are to rest. The day of rest is to allow us time to reflect on the good things that our Lord has given to us, to praise Him and learn of what He has to tell us.

IV. Honor your father and mother. (CCC 2197-2246)
- This is a great section to read in the catechism. It lays out clear details of what each member of the family and society is responsible to do. For, just as we are to honor our parents, we must honor our civil and spiritual leaders, provided their laws and rules are not in conflict with those of the Lord.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them - Luke 2:51

V. You shall not kill. (CCC 2258-2317)
- From this commandment, we learn and understand how we are to avoid taking the life of any of our brothers or sisters. We are not to justify the taking of life, through pleas of mercy or compassion. We also learn how to avoid war, and under what cases we are to mount a legitimate defense. What is more, we are to learn to control our temper.

VI. You shall not commit adultery. (CCC 2331-2391)
- Marriage is a sacred institution, created by God Himself. It predates the Mosaic Law. For that matter, it predates all human laws. We are not to profane either that institution, or ourselves. We are to honor and cherish the gift of being either male or female and not seek to degrade others or ourselves in lust. The gift of our sexuality is a powerful gift; but the more powerful and precious the gift, the more terrible and destructive it will become if used improperly.

VII. You shall not steal. (CCC 2401-2449)
- A very important commandment to keep in mind at the present time. This commandment is strongly tied to justice. Not only are we to avoid outright theft, but we must also be fair in our dealings. Workers are to be paid proper wages for their labor. Employers and tradesmen must not cheat their employees and clients. If a contract is drawn, it should not be broken.

VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (CCC 2464-2503)
- Simply put: You shall not lie. You shall not commit perjury. You shall not commit slander. You shall not commit libel. You shall not commit calumny. Gossip and the spreading of rumors destroys relationships and reputations. In many areas of our lives, we take it for granted that the people near us are truthful and when once we meet someone who is not, it can be devastating. Take care with your words, as they are not easily retracted.

IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife (CCC 2514-2527)
- This one is so important, we got it twice. It is really in line with the tenth commandment, but this particular part is stressed. We must take extra precaution to not burn with lust, for of all of the belongings of your neighbor, their spouse is the one thing they have that cannot be duplicated. The relationship between spouses is different from our relationship between us and the rest of the things that belong to us, because the spouse cannot be traded or sold. They are bonded to each other, and it is not for any mortal to seek to break that bond.

X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. (CCC 2543-2550)
- This commandment is a warning to us. We are to take care not to let greed or gluttony run amok in our lives and our thinking, for they will make the best of men into beasts. But most of all, we are warned of envy. Of the seven deadly sins, envy is the only one that is despised among all peoples, Christians, Jews, Muslims, skeptics and atheists. Envy is the desire to take possession of all desires, or if they are not to be obtained, to prevent others from enjoying them. If left unchecked, this blackness of heart will consume a person and drive them to destruction.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also - Matthew 6:21

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. We thank you for your laws, which not only point us back to you, but also allow us to live in peace with our neighbor. Lord, guide us always in the light of your truth. Fill our hearts with understanding, that we might look upon your laws and see them, not as restrictions, but as protection born of your great love for us. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Many Excuses of Moses

First Reading: Ex 3:13-20
Psalm: Ps 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27 -- The Lord remembers his covenant for ever
Gospel: Mt 11:28-30

Friends,

Another experiment today with the format. I'm going a bit beyond the reading for the day too, but it was too good to pass up.

Today, we will look at Moses' first conversation with the Lord. We should reflect on how many of these we try to use ourselves every day when speaking to God.

#1 - I'm not anyone important! How can I stand up to them/that? They're too big/powerful!

But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain." (Ex. 3:11-12)

God is always bigger than the problems we are facing. If we are following him, then, naturally, he will be with us.

#2 - They might not believe in God. What authority can I appeal to when I speak to them?

"But," said Moses to God, "when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?" God replied, "I am who am." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you." (Ex. 3:13-14).

You are being sent by the One Lord. If you know this, and will tell others when they ask by what authority you are speaking, then you continue in your task. You have done your part and trust Him Who Is to do his part.

#3 - The other faithful will not believe me! They won't listen to me!

"But," objected Moses, "suppose they will not believe me, nor listen to my plea? For they may say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'" The LORD then said, "Throw [your staff] on the ground." When he threw it on the ground it was changed into a serpent, and Moses shied away from it. (Ex. 3:1,3)

God would not send us on a hopeless task. Some will listen. For others, signs will be worked through you that others might come to accept his message. Still others will not follow, regardless of signs. Do not be concerned about them; if they would not listen to you, they would not listen to Him.

#4 - I don't know what to tell them! I'm afraid to speak to others that know more! I can't give speeches (or lead, or organize, or...)!

Moses, however, said to the LORD, "If you please, LORD, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor recently, nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gives one man speech and makes another deaf and dumb? Or who gives sight to one and makes another blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Go, then! It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what you are to say." (Ex. 3:10-12).

God made us. He knows quite well what we are capable of doing, even if we are unsure of ourselves. Trust that he has called you for his own reasons and that you are the person for the job. If we need more, He will be with us to give us what we need, when we need it.

#5 - If you please, Lord, send someone else! (Ex. 3:13)
God did not call you because you were smart, powerful, good-looking, eloquent, close to the issue or a particularly good person. At least, none of those, or countless other reasons, need have anything to do with it. It is not our place to ask why we are chosen, it is only our place to do it. If ever you feel the need to question His reasons, read Job, chapters 38 and 39.

Will we have arguing with the Almighty by the critic? Let him who would correct God give answer! (Job 40:2)

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. Thank you for sending your prophets and messengers to convey your will for us. Lord, grant us wisdom, that we might recognize your messengers when they are sent. If we, ourselves, are being called to a task, give us the courage to do it in faith and love. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Give Us A Sign

First Reading: Ex 2:1-15a
Psalm: Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34 -- Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live
Gospel: Mt 11:20-24

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you. - Matthew 11:21-24

Friends,

Something that every Christian that has attempted to share their faith is familiar with is the argument called "show us your God." This is when a skeptic says that they will believe in Jesus and God if they can see them, or witness a miracle. One individual stated that, because Paul had a personal apparition to make him believe, that opportunity should be open to everyone. Seeing is believing.

In today's gospel reading, Jesus flatly contradicts such claims. All three towns he names in the "woe" category are those on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, an area where he spent much time performing miracles. He knew them well and it is impossible that the people of the area did not know the name of Jesus of Nazareth (see Mt 4:22-24). Many had seen miracles with their own eyes and the testimony of those deeds was spread far, but the people would not believe.

So what of the three Jesus says would repent? Sodom is the best known of the three, destroyed by God as punishment for their wickedness. Tyre and Sidon are great port cities on the Mediterranean Sea, north and west of Galilee. They come in frequently in the Old Testament as places of scorn, worshippers of pagan gods. Not exactly cities with a sterling reputation. Yet, Jesus himself visits the region of Tyre not long after (Mt. 15:21-28). In that visit, he explicitly tells a woman begging a cure for her daughter that he is to minister to the Israelites first, but heals the daughter because of the woman's faith.

Twice, the Pharisees and Saducees ask for a sign, (Mt. 12:38, Mt. 16:1). Each time, Jesus' response is the same "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah," (Mt.12:39, Mt. 16:4). After the first request, he reminds them of Ninevah, where Jonah prophesized. They repented after a single day and were spared. The second time, he tells them that they can tell the weather by the signs in the sky, but not understand the signs in front of their eyes.

In our own time, the people seek a sign. We constantly ask for small miracles and many of us greatly desire to see mighty works. Yet, we often forget the great miracles that have already been done for us, or we fail to see the works of God right under our very noses. Those who wish to see miracles may find them in every moment; those who will not accept them will not see them, no matter their size. Seeing is not believing. Only believing is believing.

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the miracle of this day. We stand in awe of thte mighty works that you have wrought for us and your glory is revealed in all of creation. Lord, bless us with the gift of faith, that we might first believe and second adore. Grant that those who have hardened their hearts and minds to you may be awakened to your glory. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Overpopulation

First Reading: Ex 1:8-14, 22
Psalm: Ps 124:1b-8 -- Our help is in the name of the Lord
Gospel: Mt 10:34-11:1

[Pharaoh] said to his subjects, "Look how numerous and powerful the Israelite people are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects, "Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews, but you may let all the girls live." - Exodus 1:9,22

Friends,

In today's reading, Pharaoh sees a situation arising and is eager to head it off. He is fearful of the things that could happen, should the children of Israel outnumber the Egyptians. Thus, without provocation, he forces them into service to discourage their increase. When that fails, he orders the execution of all of the males of the Hebrews.

In our own time, we sometimes seek to cut off a problem before it reaches a hypothetical place where it becomes dangerous. In individual life, people believe that another child will cause them too much stress or take more effort than they can spare. In societal circles, eugenicists claim that it is best to terminate the more sickly or "useless" members, so that those who are well do not have to waste resources on them. On a global scale, experts claim that humans will destroy the earth if they continue to increase.

The main difficulty with these lines of thinking is that, once the terrible, hypothetical situation is believed, then some means, any means, must be used to prevent that outcome. Some people must be seen as less than human. Some people must be restricted because, "it is the only way." Once this mindset is adopted, those who supported it will inevitably fall into a category that must be restricted. A terribly high price is paid attempting to avoid an imagined horror.

As Christians, we know that each life is a gift from God. We know that the power to bestow life is not given to us, therefore we should exercise great restraint whenever we are tempted to take it. Satan is always waiting to prey upon our fears. He attempts to confuse us, speaking of far-off, cataclysmic consequences, then whispering that it would be compassionate, even merciful, to do that which is most horrible. We must remember that, no matter what the perceived danger, we need to put our trust in the Lord.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. Thank you for giving us the gift of life each and every day. Lord, please watch over those who are in positions of power, that they not be swayed by fear, but led by prudence and buffeted with courage. Grant that we also might speak boldly to protect the gift of life for our brothers and sisters. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen