Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (27th July, 2021) on the Gospel
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5-9.28;
Ps 102:6-13. (R. v.8);
Matt 13:36-43.
Topic: ...the furnace of fire.
Jesus’ disciples approached Him in today’s gospel with a request to explain to them the parable of the weeds in the field which we read last Saturday. He said to them,
The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
All causes of sin and all evil doers will be gathered and
thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. On the other hand, the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father.
Most often, when we meet this furnace of fire where all the
causes of sin and all evil doers will be thrown into, we pass it unnoticed. It
is impossible to explain this in mortal language because every fire we
experience results from the goodness of God, cf. Gen 1:31. And whenever it goes wrong, the fire service can assist.
Yet no right-thinking human dares to play with even as little as the light of a
candle.
The furnace of fire was ignited by God’s anger for torment,
cf. Rev 14:10. And no fire service
can assist because it can never be quenched, cf. Mk 9:48. Prophet Nahum questions, “Who can stand before his
indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like
fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him” (Nah 1:6). And our Lord warns,
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away.... if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell (Matt 5:29-30).
The furnace in question is not bearable. Let us therefore prove
ourselves children of the kingdom. Whoever fails to do so will have him/herself
to blame.
Bible Reading: Mk 9:42-48.
Thought for today: All causes of sin and evil doers are destined for
the fires of hell.
Let us pray: Lord, help us to avoid the furnace
of fire – Amen.
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