Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 19, 2026
Mathew 13: 24-43, or 24-30
Today’s scripture readings are telling us something important about God and about ourselves. When we understand better how God relates with us, then we learn more about who we are. We often do not discern well exactly how God relates to us; and because of this we do not really understand who we are as Jesus’ followers and how we ought to act. And acting as a mirror of God, means that we are called to change the way we see who we are.
The writer of the Book of Wisdom in our first reading, says that there no god who is like our God. Our God is the most powerful and cares about all creation. Even if other people think that they have a powerful god, only only our God rules the whole world and everyone in it. Other people fear their god who they think of only as one who forces his will on them, a god who uses force to make others believe and act correctly. But our God is not like this. Our God is different. His power allows him to be merciful when he judges us. The Lord our God governs us with tolerance and patience. In short, he governs us and looks after us with love. The just are those who are right with God, so those who have experienced God’s love and forgiveness must also behave in the very same way: being kind, patient and showing the mercy of forgiveness. And we must do this out of love, not out of having harsh power.
This is where the Matthew's Gospel for today comes in. Again we have a shorter and longer version. And like last Sunday, the shorter version is most likely the parable that Jesus actually told his hearers. The longer version includes some extra material and a commentary on the meaning of the parable from the experience of the early church. It is the shorter version, the first 6 verses, that concern us today.
We are all familiar with this passage where the weeds grow up with the wheat. The way wheat grows, the wheat could be pulled up too if they tried to get rid of the weeds. The weeds would only be destroyed at the harvest when the weeds could easily be separated from the wheat. No doubt that the servants say the wisdom in doing things this way. It only made sense.
What Jesus is really referring to is the situation of his inviting sinners to eat with him. No religious person of that time would dare to do this. It would be in violation of the customs and the Law. But Jesus who is all powerful is acting like God did as reflected in the first reading from Wisdom. Jesus, who is God and human, is not threatened by having those who are not right with the Law to eat with him. His is like God is shown in the first reading, “though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,” that is with mercy and kindness. Jesus is willing to love the sinner and, through his way of acting with care, trying to touch the heart of the sinner and have the sinner turn back to him and to His Father. After all, this is one way we can recognize that the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is the one who is not right with God who deserves Jesus attention and love. And not just an abstract love, but a love that can be experienced here and now. Isn’t this what made Jesus so attractive to people? That he was not afraid or ashamed to show his care and love to those who really need it. Just call to mind Matthew himself who was a tax collector, Mary Magdalene with her oil for Jesus feet, or Zacchaeus, another tax collector, up in the tree.
But there is more. You remember that the Book of Wisdom does not just point out that the all powerful God uses his power to govern with mercy and kindness, but also God teaches “[his] people by [his] deeds [of mercy], that those who are just must be kind; and that you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.” That those who are just may be kind. Who are the just? those who begin to hear God’s word and keep it; those who live in such a way that God’s Kingdom can begin to be seen; those who are in love with God and daily continue a relationship with Him. Jesus means this attitude to be ours, those of us here right now.
The important thing we learn today about God is that even in his power, or maybe because of it, he is kind and merciful; And, that Jesus is open to the sinner and has special concern for him or her. What we learn that is important about us, is that we are to act just like Jesus and his Father.
Fr. John Tran