WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:04.160 There's a misconception a lot of people fall into. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:09.439 We think that God doesn't really care how we live in the day-to-day. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:12.400 But sometimes you'll hear people say, God is love. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:13.439 He understands. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:14.480 Don't worry about it. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:15.839 Everything will work out. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:17.120 Just trust. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:19.440 Well, God is love. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:25.039 But because he loves us, he will always tell us the hard truth. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:26.800 He will challenge us. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:31.839 Today's gospel reminds us of something that we don't hear very often. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:34.479 Jesus speaks about judgment. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.079 He explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:40.960 The good seed represents the children of God. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:47.439 The weeds represent the work of the evil one, and for a time they grow together, but not forever. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:51.920 The harvest is coming, and Jesus doesn't soften his words. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.240 There will be a separation. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:00.399 The righteous will shine like the sun in the Father's kingdom, while evil will not have the final word. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:03.119 That can make us uncomfortable. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:05.519 A lot of people don't like to think about that. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.560 But it shouldn't make us uncomfortable. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:15.280 Imagine a judge who never sentences anyone, no matter how terrible the crime. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:22.079 Imagine a teacher who gives every student in the classroom an A, regardless of whether they studied or made any effort. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:26.799 Imagine a referee who ignored every foul in a championship game. 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:28.000 Do whatever you want. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:29.200 It's all good. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.079 We wouldn't call that mercy. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.519 We would call it injustice, in fact. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.519 Love without truth isn't really love at all. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:43.920 And justice without mercy isn't God's justice. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:46.799 God holds both together. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:50.319 That's exactly what we see in the first reading from Jeremiah. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:56.079 Jeremiah isn't standing above the people pointing his finger at them, wagging his finger. 00:01:56.319 --> 00:01:57.840 No, he's weeping. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.799 He sees the destruction that sin has brought upon his nation and it breaks his heart. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:04.799 Listen again to his words. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:09.360 Let my eyes stream with tears day and night without rest. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:10.479 Why? 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.360 Well, because sin always wounds the one who commits it. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:19.360 We often think God hates sin because he likes making rules. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.800 No, that's not it. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:24.400 God hates sin because he loves sinners. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.199 A loving parent doesn't hate cancer because cancer breaks rules. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:33.439 A loving parent hates cancer because cancer destroys their child. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:36.800 God sees what sin does to us. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:45.199 He sees what it does to a broken marriage, how it divides families, how addiction takes over lives and destroys it. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:53.039 Hearts becoming hard, indifferent, souls that drift further and further from God. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.319 Unlike Jeremiah, God grieves. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.639 But notice something else. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.280 People finally begin to pray differently. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:06.159 Instead of blaming everyone else, they say, we recognize our wickedness. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:08.400 We have sinned against you. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:11.199 That's where healing begins. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:15.680 The moment excuses end, and we own up to it. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:28.879 As long as we're blaming our spouse, as long as we're blaming our parents, this is what they did to me, this is what society has done to me, but politics in the way that no, our upbringing or nothing changes. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.800 Our first step towards holiness is always humility. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:34.719 Lord, I have sinned. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:36.639 This is what I've done. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.680 Those may be the most powerful words we ever speak. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:45.439 They're the words that open the door to grace. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.039 That's why the sacrament of reconciliation is so beautiful. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.560 We don't go to confession because God doesn't know our sins. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:54.159 Oh, he knows them. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:04.240 We go because we need to acknowledge them, own up to them, claim them, but then we receive his mercy and begin again. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:11.680 Every confession is a reminder that while judgment is real, mercy is always available. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:17.680 As long as we're alive, as long as we're breathing, the harvest has not yet come. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:27.120 God keeps offering grace, keeps calling us, keeps offering forgiveness, keeps offering another day, another chance. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:31.759 But one day, Jesus says the harvest will arrive. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:35.839 It's not meant to frighten us, it's meant to focus you. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:36.399 Why? 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:37.839 Because life does matter. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.519 Our choices matter. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:41.600 Holiness matters. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.560 And then Jesus ends with one of the most breathtaking promises of all scripture. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:50.879 The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of the Father. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:52.560 Think about that. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:57.199 God doesn't simply want to forgive you, He wants to transform you. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:00.319 He wants your life to reflect his own light. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.839 So today don't be afraid to look honestly at your heart. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:07.920 Ask yourself, where have the weeds begun to grow? 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.279 What needs to be pulled out before it spreads? 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.920 Then bring it to the Lord. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:24.319 Because the same Jesus who speaks about the harvest is the same Jesus who died on the cross so that every single one of us could become wheat gathered into his kingdom. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.959 We should desire heaven. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:29.360 That has to be our goal. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.639 Today is another opportunity to choose Christ. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:42.319 And if we do, one day, well, by his grace, we really will shine like the sun and enjoy the benefits of being and living in his presence. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.279 Amen.