Readings:
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
Romans 8:26-27
Matthew 13:24-43
God dispenses justice to both the righteous and the wicked, but even those who defy Him and disobey His commandments can hope for His mercy if they turn to Him in repentance. In the First Reading, the inspired writer of the Book of Wisdom proclaims the power and goodness of the one righteous and just God. The Lord dispenses His justice with mercy and kindness, and by His example, He teaches His covenant people that the righteousness He requires of us must be defined by compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
In today's Responsorial Psalm, we proclaim that God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy and kindness. His patience with sinful humanity teaches us that God desires repentance, not vengeance, and the salvation of the people of all nations.
In today's Second Reading, St. Paul promises that the Holy Spirit is ready to intercede with God the Father for us when we call upon Him for help. He will always intervene for us, according to the will of the Father, even when we cannot articulate our need for His intervention.
The focus of Jesus's three parables about the Kingdom of God in the Gospel Reading is that God is merciful and patient. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus, God's Supreme Prophet, taught in parables. In the third great discourse in St. Matthew's Gospel, Jesus taught seven "Kingdom Parables." Using topics of everyday life, Jesus made comparisons to illustrate His teaching points that revealed "the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven."
Jesus taught that there is no middle ground where He is concerned. God is just, merciful, and patient. He does not force us to accept citizenship in the Kingdom of His Son or His gift of eternal salvation. However, we must choose our eternal destination, either Jesus's "narrow path" to eternal life or sin's "broad road" to destruction. If a person does not decide to submit to the Sacrament of Baptism to become reborn as a child in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Jn 3:3, 5; Mk 16:16), that person has chosen to be a child of the devil and the destiny of eternal separation from God (1 Jn 3:10)! What choice have you made? Remember, there is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). You have until you draw your last breath or, if you are still alive, until the time of Christ's glorious return in His Second Advent to make your choice, but be aware that your decision will have eternal consequences!
00:00 – Intro
00:19 – Collect
00:47 – First Reading
01:54 – Responsorial Psalm
04:06 – Second Reading
04:46 – Gospel Reading
08:17 – Recommended Videos
