Homily of the Day

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s parable of the net thrown into the lake, the kingdom of God can be likened to a net full of all sorts of fish, those suitable for eating and those that are not. All that is worthwhile, the fish that is good for eating, are kept. The rest, the useless ones, are thrown away. So the reign of God is like that here on earth; be it the Church, a parish or a community. It gathers together all of us, no matter how different we may be from each other.

As individuals we all belong to the kingdom. We are members of the same body of Christ. However, are we worthwhile members? There can be no middle ground. We are either committed members to Christ or are hindrances and obstacles.

The parables of the net and the weeds make it clear that there exists no complete peace in this life. Jesus says that this becomes possible only at the Last Judgment. Yet he said: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” In God’s Kingdom everything of true value has its place. Have we opened our minds and hearts to the worthwhile? Or are we inclined to
discredit or reject anything just because it is new, or just because it is old?

Let us always keep in mind that God’s love extends to everyone in His kingdom.

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