14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Tuesday - Those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind

 

Every few years I like to reread, Dante’s Divine Comedy.  And this morning’s reading from the prophet Hosea reminds me of a scene very early on in Dante’s Inferno. After venturing through the gates of hell with his guide Virgil, Dante the pilgrim comes to the second level of hell—the level of hell set aside for the eternal punishment of those unrepentant of the sin of Lust.

In Dante’s poem, the punishments are different for every sin, and the punishments fit the crime. The Wrathful for example are condemned to an endless physical and violent battle against each other—they were wrathful on earth, and so they are subject to the wrath of others forever in hell.

The punishment for the Lustful is to be blown about by overwhelming winds and whirlwinds for all eternity. Dante was likely inspired by the line from the Prophet Hosea this morning: “those who sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind.” Those in hell reap in eternity what the sowed in their earthly life.

Dante reserves this particular punishment for the Lustful because in life they allowed themselves to be blown about by their sensual feelings and bodily craving. Ignoring the commandments and the use of right reason, they only followed their bodily desires, which are as fickle as the wind.

Yet, this is a problem not just for the Lustful. Saint Paul warns the Ephesians about “being tossed here and there, carried about by every wind”.  He warned the Ephesians of allowing themselves to be carried by the various cultural winds, the various ideological currents, making a political agenda or social ideology the impetus of their lives rather than the Gospel. 

This line from Hosea was the inspiration for another literary work, Harper Lee’s American Classic, “Inherit the Wind”…which focuses on the ideology and injustice of racism.

But again, those who “sow in wind” are not just the lustful, but those who are not firmly rooted in the truth of the Gospel.  If we are not rooted in prayer and knowledge of the Word of God, we’ll be blown about by whatever catches our fancy. 

Folks aren’t coming to Sunday Mass because they have some intellectual opposition to the Sunday obligation, but because they are doing whatever they want.  Young people aren’t cohabitating before marriage because they’ve studied the church’s theology on marriage and found it lacking. No, they are being blown about by the winds of the culture and their passions and choosing not to think about what they are doing. 

We even describe the sin of gossip as getting “caught up” in gossip, or grumbling and complaining, like we are “caught up” in some windstorm. 

When we surrender our intellect and our faith to the winds of human desire we are going to be blown to places we aren’t meant to go.  So, God help us, to remain firm against the various bad winds which blow throughout society today, and remain rooted in faith, prayer, the study of scripture, the lives of the saints, and works of charity, in order to be faithful to the Gospel of Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

That all bishops and clergy will lead the Church well in standing strong against the winds of error and immorality in our modern culture.

 

For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, for their conversion, and the conversion of all hearts.

 

For Pope Leo’s prayer intention for the month of July: For respect for human life—for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God. Let us pray to the Lord.

 

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.

 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

29th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Wednesday - Is this parable meant for us or everyone?

 “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”

This parable about consequences for servants being negligent in their duties seems to be aimed particularly at the apostles. After all, they have some serious responsibilities in caring for the master’s house, the Church. 

The bishop, St. Ambrose wrote, that this parable: seems to be set before priests, whereby they know that they will suffer severe punishment…if intent on worldly pleasure, they have neglected to govern the Lord’s household and the people entrusted to them.”

And yet, are there really any parables in the Gospels that aren’t applicable to everyone? If we are reflecting on a parable, and think, he’s probably not talking about me, you better read it again.

By virtue of our baptism, we all have a certain responsibility in the Lord’s household. We are all servants with responsibilities. Spouses have responsibilities for each other and for their children. Consecrated religious have responsibilities to fulfill their vows. Single people have to keep the commandments just like everyone else. So, this parable, like all the parables, are meant for everyone.

Now, there are a lot of Christians these days, perhaps even bishops, the successors of the apostles, who believe they will get special treatment on judgment day—a free pass, perhaps, for all the hard work, for their sparkling personalities. There’s a tendency to act as if we are special, or above the laws of God. 

St. Paul clarified this point in his letter to the Romans, when he said each and everyone will give an account to God at his judgment. God’s love for us is universal, the invitation to repent and believe is universal, but so is the fact that all will be judged.

We will be judged on the basis of our faith in the Lord, the measure of our love for Him, our neighbors, the poor, and our enemies. Did we extend mercy as we have been shown mercy? We will be judged based on our knowledge of the Lord's wishes and the particular tasks he gave us. And, we will be particularly judged based on how we used the talents the Lord has given to us.

This parable is certainly a call to conversion, a call to ensure that our single endeavor is to live for their lord in faithfulness to responsibilities he has given to us and the time that we have been given, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

For the conversion of Atheists, hardened sinners, the religiously indifferent, lapsed Catholics, and the conversion of all hearts.

“That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be a place where faith is communicated and charity is seen.”

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.