Threat to the Kingdom of Heaven

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Sixteenth  Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 13:24-30*

*First Reading : Jer 7:1-11*

*Threat to the Kingdom of Heaven*

*1) The effort to build the Kingdom of Heaven*

The Gospel of the day highlights the divine efforts to build the kingdom of heaven on this earth 

The seeds of the Kingdom of God are sown continuously on this earth 

We are the custodians of these seeds to protect and to allow them to grow 

*2) The Effort by the Devil*

On the other side, there is a devil, there is evil, which is continuously working against the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven 

The evil works without making much noise. It works silently and tries to destroy the kingdom of heaven 

*3) The need to be alert*

The Gospel makes it very clear that, evil works when every one was asleep 

This aspect highlights the importance of being alert in protecting the good seeds 

By being alert once can definitely chase the devil who comes with the seeds of weeds to be sown among the good seeds 

*4) The difficulty to identify the evil things*

There is a difficulty to differentiate the wheat from the weeds 

Since both are sown with little difference of time, they sprout together with the wheat 

Both appear similar in the initial days. So one can't differentiate very easily

This forces the sower to allow both the things to grow 

*5) The danger of evil things*

The danger first of all consists in identifying what is evil 

It silently grows with the Good things 

At times it may over power the good things and may make the good seeds useless 

Once sown  the weeds can't remove very easily. One has to allow them to grow. This may be dangerous for the growth of good seeds 

*6) The evil in the present context*

The evil one came in the night and sow the seeds of weeds

In today's context the evil comes in different forms with the seeds of weeds 

The seeds of weeds are sown in our life by the following 

The abuse of  social Media

The misuse  of internet

The misuse of  mobile 

The greed for money, power, position, authority etc 

The attitude of narrow mentality 

The laxity in spiritual life 

All these sow the seeds of weeds which destroy our life 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*