Reflection
Jeremiah 18: 1-6
Psalm 146
Matthew 13: 47-53
Jesus gives us some pretty clear teaching in today’s gospel – the wicked will end up in the fiery furnace where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. The righteous, those who follow His ways, will be saved. A teaching that was put into a parable easily understood by the people who were hearing it. Matthew frequently refers to the separation of the good from the bad, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the wicked. Why? Because it is a reality.
The Greek text in which the gospel was initially written uses the term “autous”, meaning he, she, they, them – essentially everyone is subject to this same judgment. It is important to note that Jesus does not leave things to be understood that anyone is necessarily going to the fiery furnace – we avoid it by choosing the good. And it is important that we consider today’s gospel in terms of our first reading.
Jeremiah goes to hear the Lord’s words at a potters’ shop. There, Jeremiah understands that God will create and refashion as often as necessary to get what He desires from the pottery. We need to understand that Jeremiah is referring to us. You and I have imperfections – sometimes they are small imperfections that can be smoothed out with more water and forming the clay. Sometimes they are huge imperfections and we need to be torn down and start again.
We can be smoothly formed or torn down and start over in the confessional and by receiving Eucharist. Jesus wants that for us so much that He died on the cross to make it possible. See the confessional for what it is – that great chance to start again! Get to confession this week! Don’t wait! Your experience of Jesus in the Eucharist will be even more incredible!
What a great day! Go smile at God!!