Embracing God’s Purifying Grace
August 1, Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Daily Readings: Jeremiah 18:1-6; Matthew 13:47-53
Jesus shares that the kingdom is like a dragnet that gathers all kinds of fish, both good and bad. The fishermen then sort the catch, keeping the good fish and casting out the bad.
This parable illustrates that God's kingdom includes both the righteous and the wicked, coexisting until the final judgment.
God's judgment is just, not arbitrary. Like the fishermen sorting their catch, God separates those who follow Him from those who do not, aiming to purify and draw us closer to Him.
Jesus' exhortation, "He who has ears, let him hear," underscores the importance of listening to His message and responding in faith.
We are challenged to examine our lives, let go of anything hindering our faith, and grow towards spiritual maturity. Our relationship with God is founded on His grace and mercy, not our efforts.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Lord Jesus, help us truly hear Your word and respond in faith. May we recognize Your kingdom and surrender our lives to You.
Protect us from self-righteousness and let us be grateful for Your mercy. Amen.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.