Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 1, 2023
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.”
To find the deeper meaning of this passage, I went back into the same chapter of Matthew and read his initial telling of the parable of the weeds. The chapter displays one of the primary themes of the Bible: God’s immaculate goodness.
In the divine plan for creation, God has given us a spotless garden bed to grow “good seed.” The vocabulary used here, particularly the repeated use of the word “good,” harkens back to Genesis, where we originally learn of God’s personal goodness.
Imperfection is introduced, not at the hands of God, but at the hands of the devil, or “the enemy,” as he is referred to in the passage. This enemy sows the evil seed; however, this seed will ultimately be subject to fire and flames at the end of days, whereas the good seed will flourish.
These two don’t exist entirely separately. They occupy the same space and fight for dominion over the same resources. This evil seed is the temptation in our own lives: just as a weed can choke the life from a bountiful crop, so too can our temptations, whether they are subliminal or are actively brought out by those around us, stray our attention and focus in life from God. Just as the farmer burns the weeds at harvest, we must ensure our salvation by growing separate from our temptations.
Although this message can be disturbing and cause fear in the hearts of even the most righteous Christians, we must not forget that we are not alone in this journey. Just as the weeds are the doing of the evil one, so are we tools at the disposal of our glorious creator. We must use our light to help others achieve the same eternity we dream of, and we must always go to our excellent farmer for help in being his hands and feet or even his bountiful crop here on Earth.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you look up on all of creation with great love. In your wisdom and patience you allow the weeds to grow up alongside the wheat. When we encounter wickedness in the world, may we stay firm in our faith and trust in your providential love. Through the grace of your Son Jesus Christ, may we remain in your love, and so bear much fruit.
Saint of the Day
St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696 in Naples, Italy, the oldest of seven children. He was soon known as a child prodigy—he earned a doctorate in law by the age of 16. At 21 he had his own legal practice and soon became a leading lawyer in Naples.
His law practice immersed him in the world, and he found escape in music and in visiting the sick. While visiting people suffering from terminal illnesses, he felt a distinct call to leave the world and to give himself to God. He began to study theology, even though his family protested, and was ordained a priest when he was 29.
He became known for his clear, direct, and simple preaching, and he would travel to parishes around Naples giving missions. He became a sought-after theologian and writer and founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in 1750.
He was appointed bishop of an area near Naples, which was marked by uneducated parishioners and apathetic priests. He worked tirelessly to educate the laity and reform seminaries.
As he aged, he suffered from severe rheumatism. Often, he could barely move or even raise his chin off his chest. He spent several years only drinking from tubes because his head was so bent forward.
He endured turmoil within the government and even his own religious order, but persevered through it all. He vowed never to waste a moment of his life and lived that way for more than 90 years. He died in 1787, and nearly 100 years later, he was declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example.
Much of what marks St. Alphonsus’ holiness has to do with his use of time. On the one hand, he vowed to never waste a moment of his life, and was profoundly productive. On the other hand, it was in performing a profoundly non-productive work of mercy that he heard God’s call to deepen his life of faith. As a leading lawyer, he must have had many claims on his time, yet he made time in his day to visit those suffering from terminal illnesses. Those visits opened a different horizon to his life.
As the patron of the work of lay people, we can call upon St. Alphonsus’ example and prayer to assist us in using our time well. May we find the balance he achieved between productivity and the “unproductive” works of mercy where we hear the voice of God.
St. Alphonsus Liguori’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of the work of laypeople, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Alphonsus Liguori is in the public domain. Last accessed March 28, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
