Shining at the End of the Age

Fr Michael Rasicci’s homily for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, 07/23/2023, Calvary Episcopal Church, Batavia, IL.

In today’s first Lesson, God shows His patience and love for His people. In today’s second Lesson, Paul tells us, “…The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God… if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us what Jesus Christ refers to at the end of the age. “The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Weeds can distract us from the mission we received at our baptism, to follow Jesus Christ’s example and to spread the Good News in our lives. Our goal is to be “shining like the sun in the kingdom of God at the end of the age.”

(Readings: Genesis 28:10 19a; Psalm 139: 1 11, 22 23; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43)

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