St Alphonsus Liguori, bishop & doctor, pray for us
17th Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 1st August 2023
Ex. 33:7-11; 34:5-9,28; Ps. 102:6-13;
Mt. 13:36-43 (Ps. Wk. I)
The Old Testament presents us with many images of God. Some of them are rather scary, but in several places, God reveals His true nature: merciful and gracious, slow to anger, forgiving, and filled with steadfast love and faithfulness. At the same time, we cannot take God for granted or provoke God by constant disobedience, injustice, cruelty, and selfishness.
We are accountable, and behaviour opposed to the Light will rebound on us until we learn our lesson. God wants to be merciful and compassionate – let us make it easy for God to be so.
The Word of God is sown generously in all hearts and souls but only bears fruit in some. We must nourish it and make it grow; if we do not, it will wither and die.
We are responsible for creating the conditions for its growth. These conditions include prayer, generosity, meditation, kindness, and good works. God is the sower, and we are the gardener – God always does His part; let us not fail in doing ours.
Lord, help me tend to the Word in my heart.
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