Gospel Reflection- 07/27/2021

There’s a lot that can be unboxed from just seven verses in today’s Gospel reading. Matthew reveals in full allegorical detail, the parables Jesus has been using about the kingdom of God. Jesus personifies evil, Jesus makes this real. I often reflect on the people who don’t take stories or parables seriously. “Oh it’s just a story, get over it.” So why does Jesus break down his parable even though scripture tells us “I will open my mouth to speak in parables.” Jesus wants us to know just how important and serious this really is.

His entire public ministry, Jesus drops breadcrumbs about the kingdom of God. Very early on following his baptism, one of the first public appearances, Jesus explains “the kingdom of God is at hand.” This is his mission, he wants people to know that there is a merciful and loving Father waiting for us in paradise and all we have to do to get there is be righteous and just? 

Jesus tells us himself in today’s readings, “Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” This Gospel passage should call each and everyone one of us to a moment of self reflection. Am I living a life that will one day allow me to “shine like the sun in the kingdom of God?” 

If you read this passage and it scares you? Good! We have allowed ourselves as a society to forget there is more to life than this world and the earthly desires and pleasures it comes with. Our entire lives should be built on trying to respond to the Agape love of God to our neighbor because we will never be able to understand how much God loves us or love God as much as he loves us. What we can do is go out and sow good seed in order to bring more of God’s children home to him one day.

Are you sowing seeds that are going to sprout weeds and end up in the fire? Or are you sowing seeds that will be nourished by the light of Christ in eternal glory forever?

God Bless,
Jonathan

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