Reading 1: Gen. 13:2, 5-18
“The tent, which was called the meeting tent, Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp. Anyone who wished to consult the LORD would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.”
The meeting tent, as it was called, contained the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden chest, which contained the tablets of the laws – the Ten Commandments, the WORD of GOD. This chest was sacred, sacred because it contained his WORD. Though He was Lord of the Universe and all that is in it, it pleased Him to be make Himself present in this humble abode – “Anyone who wished to consult the LORD would go to this meeting tent…”.
Many years later, the Ark of the Covenant was transferred from this humble dwelling and enthroned in the majestic temple built by King Solomon. Is it any wonder why there are so many magnificent Catholic churches today that enthrone the Blessed Sacrament?
I marvel and stand in awe that the Lord still makes Himself readily available, present in the Tabernacle, the WORD incarnate, body, soul, and divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament. As we enter any Catholic church, we apply holy water on ourselves with the sign of the cross, then genuflect or bow in reverence to the God of the ancient Israelites, still present, and still available for anyone who wishes to “consult the LORD”.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus, second person of the Triune God, went into the house after dismissing the crowds. His disciples asked Him to explain the meaning of the parable of the weeds in the field, which he had just taught the crowds. He replied,
"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.”
It is clear that we, the children of the Kingdom, are working side-by-side the children of the Evil One, in the same field, which is the world. The destruction caused in the world by the children of the Evil One, is clearly and undeniably self-evident. As children of the Kingdom, we cannot let up doing our part of prayer and work, and more prayer and work. The Lord is present in the Blessed Sacrament for consultation and encouragement.
