First Reading: 1 Jer 14:17-22
Psalm: 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
Gospel: Mt 13:36-43
Jeremiah looked at his society and described it as overwhelmed by great destruction (Jer 14:17). He diagnosed it as wounded and incurable (Jer 14:17). Under these circumstances, Jeremiah prayed: “Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest” (Jer 14:17).
Pope John Paul II looked at our world and described it as a “culture of death.” Although this is even worse than what Jeremiah described, Pope John Paul II assured the victory of a civilization of love and life over our “culture of death.” Pope John Paul II was not naive. He realized the “enormous disparity between the powerful resources available to the forces promoting the ‘culture of death’ and the means at the disposal of those working for a ‘culture of life and love’” (The Gospel of Life, 100). However, “we have faith in God our Father and Lord, in His goodness and mercy…God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity” (Mission of the Redeemer, Pope John Paul II, 86). Moreover, the “new springtime of Christian life…will be revealed…if Christians are docile to the action of the Holy Spirit” (Toward the Third Millennium, Pope John Paul II, 18).
“We are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us” (Rm 8:37). Thank You, Jesus!