2026-07-19 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2026-07-19 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer
Prayer for healing:
Heavenly Father, we surrender our loved one and friends who are in need
of healing to your loving care and miraculous healing. May the
life-giving powers of your touch flow into every cell of their bodies
and into the very depth of her soul, cleansing, purifying, and restoring
them to wholeness and full life. Grant them the strength, courage, and
patience to endure their suffering. Help them to accept God's will and
to find peace in His love. At this time we lift up the following people:
Eunice Kim, Iris Simon, Eloise Dutil, Don Mamayek, Bernice Comfort, John Fox, Buddy, Abby,
Debbie, EJ, Gretchen, Bob and Aida Heller ... whom else should we pray
for
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Modern Catholic biblical scholarship recognises that the book of Wisdom was actually written by an anonymous Jewish author in Alexandria, Egypt, around the 1st century BC, to offer teachings that would encourage faithful Jews living in a dominant Hellenistic (Greek) culture. The Catholic Church accepts this historical context while still affirming the book's divine inspiration and its inclusion in the biblical canon
The author asserts that God is the supreme ruler of all, accountable to no one. Because God’s very nature is righteous, His power is never abused; He does not punish anyone unjustly. Because God is sovereign over all, He is free to show leniency and spare His creation. He only demonstrates the "completeness" of His power to humble the arrogant or correct those who already know His ways but wilfully ignore them. Despite having the ultimate power to act and destroy whenever He chooses, God governs with "mildness" and "great forbearance". His patience is an expression of His mercy, not a sign of weakness. By governing this way, God acts as a teacher. He shows His people that the truly righteous must also be kind and merciful. Furthermore, it offers all people "good hope" by providing the opportunity and space for repentance
Psalm 86:-6, 9-10, 15-16
Psalm 86:5-16 is a deeply personal prayer where King David contrasts his weakness and dangerous enemies against the absolute power, compassion, and faithfulness of God.
In verses 5-6, David establishes the foundation of his prayer by recognising God's forgiving character. He declares that God is "good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love". This is not a reward for human perfection, but a promise of mercy available to all who earnestly call upon Him
In verses 9-10, even as David is surrounded by adversaries, he reflects on God's supremacy, acknowledging that no false idol or earthly ruler can match God's majesty or power, meaning God is uniquely qualified to save him
In verses 15-16, David facing a very real threat from arrogant and violent men who do not honor God. appeals to God's protection instead of taking matters into his own hands, The quote of fundamental self-revelation of God was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6)
Romans 8:26-27
This reading speaks of the activities of the Holy Spirit. St Paul says the faithful will inevitably face perplexity and suffering, but due to human limitations we will not know what to pray for, especially during severe trials and spiritual impoverishment. Surrender to God, because the Holy Spirit won't just help us pray; but will indeed pray on our behalf. Because the Spirit intercedes "according to the will of God", we can trust that our groaning and sighs are translated into divine petitions that bring about ultimate redemption and restoration.
Matthew 13:24-43
1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3–9, 18–23)
2. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43)
A sower sows good seed in his field, but an enemy sneaks in at night and sows weeds which grow up alongside the wheat. The master tells his servants not to pull the weeds lest they uproot the wheat. Instead, he commands they grow together until the harvest, when they will be separated.
The Meaning: God is the sower who spreads his word in our hearts, the devil tempts the faithful into sin which separates us from God. True believers (the wheat) and unbelievers (the weeds) co-exist in the world. God will separate them at the final judgment and reward the righteousness.
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32)
A tiny mustard seed—one of the smallest seeds—is planted in a field. It grows into a massive tree, large enough for birds to nest in its branches.
The Meaning: The Kingdom of Heaven starts incredibly small and insignificant, like the 1 to 2 millimeters seed of Black Mustard (scientific name: Brassica nigra) in the eyes of the world, but it will eventually grow to be vast and globally dominant. Under the right conditions, especially in fertile areas like the Jordan Valley or near the Sea of Galilee, a single wild black mustard plant can rapidly shoot up to 8 to 12 feet tall. It develops a thick, rigid, woody main stem and sturdy, branch-like stalks. Small songbirds are highly attracted to the oily seeds of the mature plant and frequently take shelter from the sun on the sturdy branches.
4. The Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33)
A woman mixes a tiny amount of leaven (yeast) into three measures of flour until the entire batch rises.
This represents the quiet, unseen, but transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Once you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, it works from the inside out to influence everything you think, say and do for the honour and glory of God.
5. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
6. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45–46)
7. The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13:47–50)
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