Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13:24–30
Another parable he proposed to them, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle.
And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: ‘Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it cockle?’
And he said to them: ‘An enemy hath done this.’
And the servants said to him: ‘Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?’
And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Persevere with Joy
We can’t afford to “fall asleep” thinking that everything is already going well — that our conversion is done, that we go to Mass, pray regularly, haven’t argued in a while… If this is where we’re at, then thanks be to God!
But what a mistake it would be to think the battle is over.
The Evil One never sleeps. He’s tireless. He lies in wait for us to lower our guard so he can sow weeds in the middle of our wheat.
Knowing this, what should we do when we discover weeds growing in our hearts?
Above all — never lose hope. Persevere in the essential path of purification.
Persevere in prayer and in the sacraments. And always give thanks to God — because even when we fall, He loves us. He makes us strong when we acknowledge our weakness.
Applied to Married Life
(Before beginning the path of purification, Pepe was an impatient person, which sometimes led him to act without charity toward his wife. Afterwards, he often felt bitter and sad for having fallen again, because he knew it wasn’t right.
Today, Pepe is praying…)
Pepe: Forgive me, Lord. I thought I had already overcome this impatience. It had been a long time since I last gave in.
But here I am — I’ve fallen again. And I made Maite feel bad.
But you know what, Lord? Something has changed in me.
Today I’m joyful, because in this fall, I’ve experienced my smallness.
I asked her forgiveness quickly, and I felt Your loving gaze encouraging me to keep going.
I want to be a saint, Lord. But I know I can’t do it alone.
What scares me now isn’t falling — it’s losing love.
Mother,
Today we celebrate the memorial of your parents, Saints Joachim and Anne — a holy marriage.
We ask you, Mary, to intercede for all the couples who read these Gospel reflections. May we always persevere and remember that Love is stronger than death, and that Jesus is always faithful.
Blessed be Jesus. Blessed be You, who do not break the bruised reed, nor extinguish the smouldering wick.