23 Jul
Sun
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Wis. 12:13,16-19
Ps. 86(85):5-6,9-10,15-16
Rom. 8:26-27
Mt. 13:24-43
(Ps Wk IV)
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The Book of Wisdom praises God: God never judges unjustly; his justice is rooted in strength and his justice and strength ensure that he is lenient.

Jesus parable of the weeds among the wheat is a challenging reflection on God's tolerance, his leniency and patience. Any merely human farmer would probably tell his workers to root out the weeds, but Jesus teaches that God thinks otherwise. We look at our world and wonder why God tolerates the existence of evil people who, directly or indirectly cause the deaths of so many innocent people.

Why do bad things happen to good people? This perennial question calls us to reflection, patience, tolerance, adoration. Only God can reveal the answer to this question: "until the harvested." This answer will probably not console us, for any mere answer to the question is not enough. Only God, as the true Lord of the Harvest in himself is the answer, and so Jesus died on a cross to save us all.



Father in Heaven, as we face the terrible evil that confronts and threatens us somewhere every day, enlighten us by filling our hearts with Your patience, tolerance and leniency.


DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life.
Elaboration

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