Jesus reveals the reality of the Spiritual Combat and the Four Last Things. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Defense and seek God’s protection from Satan’s attacks and by seeking the Gift of Counsel from the Holy Spirit so he can be helped by the Spirit to rely on his Guardian Angel.
Liturgy
17th Week in Ordinary time – Tuesday – Mt 13:36-43
Commentary
Pausing in His Sermon of Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 13), Jesus responds to His disciples’ private request to explain The Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat.
In the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat, the Householder (Jesus) sows good seed (the sons of the Kingdom) on His field (the world). The enemy (the Devil) sows weeds (the sons of the Devil). The Householder (Jesus), unwilling to sacrifice the wheat (the sons of the Kingdom), will send His reapers (the Angels) at the harvest (the Judgment) to bring the wheat (the sons of the Kingdom) to His barn (Heaven) and to bind up the weeds (the sons of the Devil) and cast them into the furnace of fire (Hell), “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
With directness, Jesus confirms reality. God has complete dominion over the world. God loves and protects His men. God allows Satan and his “sons” to exist. In the Spiritual Combat of life, men are attacked by Satan and Satan’s men. God promises to judge the good and the evil, with the awe-inspiring and magnificently powerful Angels playing a key role in forcefully sorting the souls of men in the Judgment. God’s sons, the righteous, will be blessed in the Father’s Kingdom. Those who follow Satan will be condemned to an excruciating Hell. God wins and Satan loses.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be awed, and filled with holy fear, by the Divine Justice which Jesus brings to every man: Son of Man, Jesus proclaims Truth (a part of Justice), the acceptance of which is a standard of the Judgment of men; Divine Judge, Jesus will reach His verdict on every man’s life based on if the man repents from sin and accepts His Gospel, or not; using Vindication (a part of Justice by which rewards and punishments are given for men’s behaviors), Jesus will accept the good to be glorified in Heaven, while He will banish the evil, who sin and lead others to sin, to the everlasting suffering of Hell.
Seek the Father’s protection from Satan’s attacks
Realize: In rebellion against God, the modern culture has “dumbed down” Satan: as a goofy Halloween character, as a good guy on TV and movies, fictionalized for entertainment in horror films, etc. Jesus directly reveals the reality of Satan; a man who doesn’t take Satan seriously, doesn’t take Jesus seriously.
Believe: Review the Catechism’s teaching on Satan and Demons (CCC 391-395, 2850-2854).
Pray: Almighty Father, help me build the Virtue of Defense/Protection (a part of Justice) so I accept the reality of the constant attacks of Satan, his demons, and his evil men on earth, I strive to protect myself and my family spiritually, mentally and physically, and I rely on Your constant help in defending my loved ones in the Spiritual Combat.
Be counseled by the Spirit to rely on your Guardian Angel
Realize: As with Satan, the modern culture trivializes angels, by calling sports teams and lingerie models, “angels”, and by promoting numerous fictional fantasies which have goofy characters as angels. The truth is that God’s angels are supernatural beings with capabilities far greater than men, and whose presence causes men to shrivel and faint in fear.
Believe: Reflect upon the Catechism’s teaching on Angels (CCC 328-336).
Pray: Holy Spirit, give me the Gift of Counsel so I am directed by You to be aware of the spectacular Guardian Angel God has personally created for me, and I constantly seek the guidance of my Guardian Angel and his protection from Satan, his demons and his evil men.