Whoever has ears ought to hear.

This admonition by Jesus appears six times in our Gospels by Matthew, Mark and Luke.  One might think there is a point to all of this hearing going on; if you’re not getting that message, let me say it for you here again – Whoever has ears ought to hear.

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.”

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.

all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.

What I hear in this is that I’m not only responsible for my sinful acts, but if those acts leads others astray, I’m responsible for their sinful acts also.  I don’t want that responsibility and I pray none of you who read this want that on your shoulders either.

The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.

If you don’t believe in the existence of the Devil, look no further than our weekend Catholic newspaper, The St. Louis Review, to see that Satan is real and so are his empty works and promises.  64 names – with credible evidence against them – of people who claimed to be Men of God but were men of the evil one, the weeds we hear about in the Gospel this morning.  Look no further than the Garlic Festival where Satan struck against the innocent there.  And how about at the Walmart early today.

Satan is real; Satan exists.  We must take up the fight and battle him everyday.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.

Join me in a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:

Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Do something great for our Lord today – open your ears and hear His message.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.