WE WILL BE OBEDIENT…

Exodus 24:3-8

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do.”
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.
6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Matthew 13:24-30

24 Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27 And the servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?’
28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’
29 But he said, ‘No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING describe the genesis moment when all the people with one accord and in union with Moses swear an oath that they will “do” all that the Lord has said. Moreover they promise to be obedient to the covenant that Moses read aloud for all to hear. This public act of obedience was sealed and an altar was build whereby a blood sacrifice was made with blood poured on to the altar and the people were also sprinkled with the blood! This act of worship and liturgical ritual was accompanied by Moses’ reading the words of God for all to hear as recorded by him in the book refered to as the Torah. 

This worship Tradition established the groundwork for the Messiah who renewed the covenant when Jesus shed His blood for all mankind. We Christians have become partakers and inheritors of this blood offering as presented in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the preeminent mode of worship established by our Lord.Mt 26:26-29

St MATTHEW record a parable that seeks to flesh out in metaphoric terms that God’s work of grace will not necessarily produce the desired abundant harvest in the kingdom. This parable highlight that many members of the the body of Christ shall be corrupted by Satan such that the quality of the harvest will be compromised! 

Our Lord is mindful that much of the flock will not be recognizable because they have become disobedient and have developed their own personal way of “worship” to please their senses, such that it does not comport with His teaching. To this extent our Lord appear to be tolerant with the hope that one day they will see the light as exemplified by the obedient remnant who still practice the Covenant worship whereby the people partake of the blood of the lamb arround the altar of Sacrifice. 1 Cor 11:23-26 We who have departed from the true mode of worship are called to be obedient!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 50:1-2,5-6,14:15

The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! 
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days