Living amid weeds among the wheat

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, 30 July 2024
Jeremiah 14:17-22     ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>     Matthew 13:36-43

How fitting are your words
today, O God our merciful Father,
that it is the same thing we feel in the
midst of that irreverent show in Paris:
"Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
over the great destruction which
overwhelms the virgin daughter
of my people, 
over her incurable wound"
(Jeremiah 14:17).

Have mercy on us, Lord.
Like in the time of Jeremiah 
your prophet,
people refused to hear your
words spoken through him;
people had all the excuses
and alibis for their evil deeds;
most of all, 
believed so much on themselves
forgetting You were simply
merciful and forgiving,
allowing the weeds to thrive
among the wheat.

Let us continue to listen
to your words,
to do your will
despite what others supposed
to be intellectual and cultured
would say; let us not be faithful
hearers only but most of all 
faithful doers 
of your words too.

Let us be reminded always
by the words of St. Peter
Chrysologus whose 
memorial we celebrate today:
"If you jest with the devil,
you cannot rejoice 
with Christ."
Amen.