Striving for holiness
Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday,
In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear another one of Jesus parables about the end of the age. He says this:
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. (Matthew 13:44-52)
This parable is strikingly similar to last Sunday’s on the wheat and the weeds. The farmer allows them to grow up together, but when it is harvest time, the weeds are taken away and burned.
When Jesus repeats himself, we ought to listen. Obviously the words of our Lord are important, but even more so when he thinks we need to hear them a second time.
Since we do not know the day nor the hour, we must do everything we can every day to love God and love our neighbor.
We must never become complacent and say “I am good enough” or “God will accept me as is.” No, we must always strive to do better than the day prior. After all, it is never possible to love God enough.
Over at Cor Fidei this week, Brandy discusses suffering and uniting it to that of our Lord.
Today on Michigan Mornings® Saturday, I discuss the new Michigan state budget and the interest that the state ought to have in non-public schools. Plus: interviews with Fr. John Riccardo and Bishop Francis Kalabat at the Rising from the Ashes Revival in Detroit.
Listen at 8am on Ave Maria Radio or find it wherever you get your podcasts at 9am.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday we will hear from 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30; and Matthew 13:44-52. In the Liturgy of the Hours we are entering Psalter Week I.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Wednesday, July 29 - Memorial of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Thursday, July 30 - Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop and doctor (optional)
Friday, July 31 - Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Saturday, August 1 - Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes.”
Matthew 11:25
In the news:
The United States
US bishops call for ‘accountability, transparency, and justice’ in wake of ICE shootings - Crux
Catholic Scouting in the U.S. has a new name—and the same adventurous mission - America Magazine
Abortion count rises as women turn to chemical abortions, per new data - EWTN News
Opinion: Should exorcists shun the spotlight? - Jack Figge in National Catholic Register
Doctrines that shape “Calvin and Hobbes” - Terry Mattingly in Rational Sheep
The Vatican
Vatican denies Fr. Marko Rupnik has been acquitted - National Catholic Register
Pope makes surprise excursions to Holy Trinity Shrine and Benedictine monasteries - Vatican News
The World
EU lawmakers push special envoy on Pakistan forced conversions ahead of appeal - EWTN News
Caritas Venezuela adds recovery component to ongoing relief efforts - EWTN News
How ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ is helping Pakistanis navigate the age of AI - UCA News
Asian bishops: Church must confront clericalism as root challenge - UCA News
Requiescat in pace
Ann Teresa O’Neill, healed in Seton miracle, dies at 78 - EWTN News
Have a good weekend,
Matthew