＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 14:17-22

This you will say to them:

Let my eyes shed tears night and day without ceasing! For with a great wound has the virgin daughter of my people been wounded, a most grievous wound.  If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword. If I enter the city I see the ravages of famine. For the prophet and the priest did not understand what was happening in the land.”

 Have you then rejected Judah forever? Do you abhor Zion? Why have you wounded us and left us with no hope of recovery? We hoped for salvation but received nothing good; we waited for healing, but terror came! Yahweh, we know our wickedness and that of our ancestors, and the times we have sinned against you.

 For your name’s sake do not despise us; do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember us. Do not break your covenant with us!  Among the worthless idols of the nations, are there any who can bring rain, or make the skies send showers? Only in you, Yahweh our God, do we hope, for it is you who do all this.

 

Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 13:36-43

 Then he sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Jesus answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the Kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil; the harvest is the end of time and the workers are the angels.

Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And these will be thrown in the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Fa­ther. If you have ears, then hear.

 

Gospel Reflection：

When we ask for explanations about stories or things we do not understand, we hope to get clearer retelling of the stories or simpler explanation of things. Oftentimes, however, we just run into circles-the stories will only drain our mind.

The better way to understand a story, though, is to learn its lesson. What shall we do of the story? Rather than squeezing our mind for its meaning, we move and act on the challenge. This is what Jesus does in our Gospel today.

The disciples are asking for an explanation of a parable. Jesus did clarify some terms, but He pointed more to them the lesson of the parable. How God will restore goodness and justice in this chaotic world-and how shall we contribute to that restoration. We are then challenged to be part of the story-to partake of Jesus’ mission.