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Today, 4th of December, we celebrate
Saint John Damascene
First Reading: Jer 14:17-22
Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you alone, O LORD,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone have done all these things.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 79:8,9,11 &13
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:36-43
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
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.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."
Holy Spirit, the fire of God
In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of seeds and wheat, but this time, he is not addressing the crowd but his small group of disciples.
We notice a change in emphasis in the explanation of the parable. Matthew indicates that at the end of the ages, the evil forces will be cast into the fire of God’s wrath, describing the terrors that await the evildoers—there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This explanation was a catechesis addressed to the community of Matthew at the end of the first century. Apparently, the early Christians may have lost their dedication to their faith after following Jesus’ teachings for a few decades. The author of the gospel seeks to jolt them into action by employing a language and imagery often used by the religious teachers of the time, such as fiery furnaces, weeping and gnashing of teeth, as well as references to angels and demons.
While reading this passage, it’s crucial to refrain from misinterpreting God as a condemning authority figure. St. Paul stresses that God is the Father who wishes for the redemption of all (1Tim 2:4). The Gospel of John asserts emphatically that “He did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (Jn 3:17).
The only fire that God sends is his Spirit, that descended on the disciples during the Pentecost (Acts 2:3). It is the unstoppable flame that will burn all traces of weeds in the heart of every person, leaving only the good grain in each person. The fire of God, The Holy Spirit will one day wipe out all forms of evil.
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Saint IGNATIUS of LOYOLA, Priest
Memorial July 31
While recuperating from a wound incurred as a soldier, Ignatius read the lives of saints because there was nothing else to read. He reflected further on the purpose of his life, made pilgrimages, and decided to serve God.
The "company" he founded was to be at the disposal of the Pope to serve the most urgent contemporary needs of the Church. In his time the Jesuits were instrumental in counteracting heresies, reforming the Church, and starting overseas missions. To him, action was always to be based on reflection and prayer. This is sound advice also to us today.
Lord our God,
like St Ignatius we have accepted your invitation
to follow you Son Jesus as his disciples
and to do everything we do
for your greater honor and glory.
Give us the strength of your Spirit
not to seek ourselves
and to accept our task in life
with all its consequences.
For we are certain Jesus will lead us to you,
our loving God for ever and ever.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, our Father,
in this eucharist may the Lord Jesus
bring us so close to him
that he makes us willing to accept from him
any task you want to give us.
Let service to the Church and its needs
be our main preoccupation
and may we always render this service
for the greater glory of God.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
in the eucharist you have enlightened us
with the word and the body of Jesus.
Let Jesus give us his Spirit of discernment
that we may see clearly the task ahead of us
and commit ourselves to it with wisdom
and total dedication,
without hesitation or fear.
For it is your work we do,
our living
God, for ever and ever.
