First reading Jeremiah 18:1-6
When the clay goes wrong, the potter starts afresh
The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Get up and make your way down to the potter’s house; there I shall let you hear what I have to say.’ So I went down to the potter’s house; and there he was, working at the wheel. And whenever the vessel he was making came out wrong, as happens with the clay handled by potters, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel, as potters do. Then this word of the Lord was addressed to me, ‘House of Israel, can not I do to you what this potter does? – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you are in mine, House of Israel.’
Responsorial Psalm 145(146):2-6
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God.
or
Alleluia!
My soul, give praise to the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God.
or
Alleluia!
Put no trust in princes,
In mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay
and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God.
or
Alleluia!
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth,
the seas and all they contain.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Matthew 13:47-53
The fishermen collect the good fish and throw away those that are no use
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’
When Jesus had finished these parables he left the district.
_____________________________________________
Mouldable clay
“….Then this word of the Lord was addressed to me, ‘House of Israel, can not I do to you what this potter does? Yes, as the clay in the potter’s hands, so you are in mine.” (1st reading). Like clay in the potter’s hands, we are not the final product but a work in progress. We form our intentions and values and exercise our freedom along life’s journey. Sometimes, we might be deformed by pride, greed, etc. Today, let us acknowledge that God is our potter and we are the clay in His hands. He calls us to be moldable and flexible so that He can shape and form us to His image of love. We trust that God works at the wheel for our good.
In the gospel, Jesus tells us that God, like the fishermen casting the dragnet widely, does not have favourites, but He loves all, the saints and the sinners. We need to respond to His gracious love by allowing His goodness to expand our hearts and make us live a life of love. In this time of prayer, let us allow ourselves to be loved by God so that we can love others with His same love.
Reflective question:
How do the passages speak to me personally?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
