It is 31st July 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest. The readings are from Jeremiah 14:17-22; and the Gospel from Matthew 13:36-43. The consequences of evil and sin can be seen in one’s life always. Most of the time, we attribute the sin of the society for the causes of human conditions and natural calamities. The impact of the evil and sin is noticed but not dealt with sternly in our personal and social life. We need to separate, seclude and sanitize our hearts from the evil and sin. Whether we are aware and acknowledge, the sowing of the evil and sin is done so subtly and meticulously by the evil structure, people and relationships. God punishes sins and evil in God’s time. God pardons those who humble themselves and acknowledge their sins and evil. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah reminds people that God would punish their evil things. The severe drought caused by no rain that brought sickness in body and spirit among people. People believed that famine, war, pestilence are the direct outcome of their own sins. It is the prophet who helped them to go closer to God in prayer and penance. People and the prophet reminded the glory of God and the covenant God made with God’s people. They acknowledged the power of God by telling that the God of the others cannot bring rain and blessing. “No, it is you, Lord. O our God, you are our hope, since it is you who do all this.” (Jer.14:22). The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.” (Ps.78:9). The Gospel teaches that there is a time of God in our lives to judge and reward the things we have done. Let us not replace God in judging everything outrightly and condemn it and destroy it. God allows the evil to grow along with the good. The evil can never suffocate or choke the good because God protects the good by all means. God goes on sowing the seeds of love, peace, justice and freedom in our hearts to be the persons God wants us to be. Yet, the Evil one also is not tired of sowing the seeds of hatred, division, injustice, violence and all kinds of selfishness in our hearts. The time of sowing will be ended when we have completed the life here on earth and to face God to see how the evil we have perpetrated by our own indifference, ignorance, arrogance and pride. What is growing in our hearts? Darnel or the good seed? “Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Mt.13:43). May we just not be aware of what is growing in us but let us make efforts to deal with the weed that does not allow us to be the person God wants us to be. May you have a good day.