Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today's readings invite us to confront profound questions about suffering, justice, and the ultimate triumph of God's love. In our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah pours out his heart in lament, crying out: 'Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound.' He sees the slain, the hungry, the terror, and he cries out to God, 'Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed?' It is a raw, honest cry of pain, a profound questioning of God in the face of immense suffering.

And we, too, ask 'why?' when faced with loss, with pain that seems incurable. We recognize, as Jeremiah does, that we are not perfect, that we have sinned. But Jeremiah's plea is not one of self-blame, but a desperate cry for God to remember His covenant, to act for His name's sake. He reminds us that our hope is not in 'nations' idols' or 'mere heavens,' but in God alone, 'to whom we look.'

Then, in our Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds in the field. The disciples want to know the meaning of the good seed and the weeds. Jesus clarifies: 'He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One.' He speaks of a final harvest, a time of separation, when 'the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.'

This parable, while speaking of a final judgment, also offers us a profound comfort in the face of inexplicable suffering. It tells us that the 'weeds,' the sources of evil and suffering in the world, are sown by 'the Devil,' the 'Evil One'—not by God. God is the sower of good seed, the source of all that is good, pure, and life-giving. This means that sickness, sorrow, and untimely death are not God's will, not a punishment, and certainly not the fault of those who love and care. They are part of the brokenness of a world where evil exists, but they do not come from the hand of our loving Father.

Six weeks ago, our dear Benjamin Vo entered into eternal life. We remember Ben today, a young man whose determined spirit was so evident in his life. His family tells us that he believed that 'trying is all that matters.' Whether on the badminton court or pushing through basketball tryouts, he wasn't afraid to work hard, to give his all. That determined spirit, that refusal to give up, even when things were difficult, was a beautiful reflection of a soul that understood the value of effort and perseverance. He carried a gentle strength, a quiet resolve, in his own 'earthen vessel.'

Benjamin was a 'child of the Kingdom,' a good seed sown by God. His life, though brief, was filled with the light of Christ, shining through his kindness, his love for family, and his joyful spirit. His life was good seed, and it bore much fruit. And just as Jesus promises, 'the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.' Benjamin Vo, the good seed, now shines in the eternal light of God's love.

For his parents, Alan and Thao, for his brother Ryan, and for all his aunts, uncles, and loved ones, the grief is immense. It is natural to cry out with Jeremiah, 'Why?' But today, Jesus reminds us that God is the sower of good, not of suffering. You did everything you could, you loved him perfectly, and God does not accuse you, nor should you accuse yourselves. There are sorrows in this world that simply come, beyond our control, beyond our prevention. God does not send them, but He walks with us through them.

To Alan and Thao, to Ryan, and to all who grieve: Jesus sees your tears. He knows your longing. And He reminds us that Benjamin is not a 'weed' to be cast out, but a 'child of the Kingdom' now shining like the sun. To every family carrying a heavy cross, to every child who is suffering, whether you are here with us or tuning in from afar: God welcomes you, sees you, and holds you. May we find strength and hope in this truth, trusting that Benjamin now rests in the eternal embrace of our Lord, interceding for us all, his determined and gentle spirit shining brightly in the light of Christ.