Today, July 28
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Book of Jeremiah 14,17-22.
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. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you. For your name's sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Among the nations' idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things.
Psalms 79(78),8.9.11.13.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; May your compassion quickly come to us, For we are brought very low. Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name's sake. Let the prisoners' sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death. Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13,36-43.
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as 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 who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear."
Daily Reflection
I am writing to you, my brothers, so you might know that, since the day when Adam was created until the end of the world, the Evil One wages war against the saints without respite (Rev 13,7)... They are few, however, who realize that this destroyer of souls lives with them inside their bodies, close to the soul. It is there that they feel distress and there is no one on earth to comfort them. That is why they look to heaven and place all their expectation there, waiting to receive something within themselves. And by means of this strength and thanks to this armor of the Spirit (Eph 6,13), they shall overcome. For truly, it is from heaven that they acquire a strength hidden from the eyes of the flesh. So long as they seek God with all their heart, God's strength constantly comes in secret to their assistance... It is precisely because they are sensitive to their weakness and are unable to overcome that they so ardently beg for God's armor and, thus clothed for the fight with the weapons of the Spirit (Eph 6,13), they become victorious... You should know, then, beloved brethren, that in all those who have prepared their soul to provide good soil for the heavenly sowing, the enemy makes haste to sow his tares... Know also that those who do not seek the Lord with all their heart are not tempted by Satan in so manifest a way; rather, it is in hidden ways and more by trickery that he tries... to push them away from God. But now, brothers, take heart and don't be afraid of anything. Don't allow yourselves to be frightened by the imaginations stirred up by the enemy. Don't give in to a confused restlessness in prayer by multiplying unnecessary petitions, but receive the Lord's grace with contrition and repentance... Take heart, be comforted, hold fast, concern yourselves with your souls, persevere in prayer with all zeal... For all those who seek God in truth will receive divine strength in their soul and, in receiving this heavenly unction, they will feel within themselves the taste and sweetness of the world to come. May the peace of the Lord, that peace which was with all the holy fathers and kept them safe from every temptation, be also with you.