6th Week after Holy Cross

1Corinthians 9:19-27 All Things to All

Though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all,
so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in
order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the
law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those
under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law
(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that
I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I
might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might
by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I
may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race the runners
all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it
to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not
run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my
body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should
not be disqualified.
Praise be to God always!

Matthew 13:36-43 The Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds

Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached
him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the
field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of
Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the
kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy
who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the
reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with
fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his
angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and
all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will
shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears
listen!
This is the truth. Peace be with you.

Paul follows Jesus in reaching out to all, while knowing that only some will accept the good news. We must likewise preach without fear from rejection. We must do our best that all might be saved. We live in an age that tells us to be quiet about the truth for the sake of manners. This is a dangerous precedent and an evil idea. Truth must always be spoken, and must always be spoken with love.

In memory of the Virgin, your creatures rejoice and sing praise to the Son;
through her he became incarnate and exalts her memory
throughout the earth.
Prophets, apostles and martyrs, friends of Christ, intercede for the Church and her children;
in the strength of your prayers, may all dissension cease within her.
Through the fragrance of this incense (prayer), grant forgiveness of sins to all the departed who ate your body and drank your blood.