Welcome to our Bible Study 16 th Sunday in Ordinary Time A July 20, 2014 In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1 st reading: Wisdom 12:13, There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; 16 For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. 17 For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. 18 But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. 19 And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins. The focus is on God’s might.

1 st reading: Wisdom 12:13, God’s might 13 There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; 16 For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. 17 For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. Judging with clemency 18 But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. Teaching to be kind and to repent 19 And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins. A simple outline!

1 st reading: Wisdom 12:13, God’s might 13 There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; 16 For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. 17 For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. Judging with clemency 18 But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. Teaching to be kind and to repent 19 And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins. Commentary V.13 affirms the statement in Exodus that there is no god besides God. It affirms that God cares; he is just and fair to all. V.16 explains why God is just and gives consideration. V.17 states God’s behavior. He shows his total power to those who disbelieve him. He rebukes those who are timid. V.18 repeats v.16 on the might and leniency of God. V.19 gives the morale of God’s power and leniency: That the just might be kind. That he may give humans the reason to repent from their sins.

Reflections on the 1 st reading For God, there is no such thing as pure justice. It is always tempered with consideration. God tempers his power with clemency. God is able to show kindness because of his power. God is doing this in order that we, too, may show kindness when exercising justice to others, and that we may repent from our sins. Are you just and kind? Or a tyrant?

Resp. Ps. 86:5-6, 9-10, R. (5a) Lord, you are good and forgiving. 5 You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O LORD, and glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. 15 You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. 16 Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant.

Resp. Ps. 86:5-6, 9-10, R. (5a) Lord, you are good and forgiving. 5 You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O LORD, and glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. 15 You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. 16 Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant. Commentary V.5 affirms God as good, forgiving and kind. V.6 expresses the petition of the psalmist. V.9 expresses the response of the nations for his goodness: to worship and glorify. V.10 also mentions the reason why people adore him: You are great, do wonderful things; you’re the only God. In v.15, the psalmist again affirms God’s goodness. For this reason, the penitent psalmist finds confidence in God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Reflections on the Psalm God is available to forgive all the time. God readily answers the prayer of repentant sinners for mercy and forgiveness. Because of his abundant love, God cannot turn away anyone, who humbly approaches him and recognizes his might. How do you approach God? When you pray, are you aware that you are a sinner in front of God and in need of mercy?

2 nd reading: Romans 8: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. The focus is on God’s Spirit.

2 nd reading: Romans 8: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. Commentary Paul reflects on the role of the Spirit upon us. In v.26, Paul says that the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. Since we don’t really know how to pray, the Spirit does it for us. Paul describes the Spirit as groaning (sound effect) as it prays. In v.27, Paul is aware that God (the one who searches the hearts) knows the intention of the Spirit (our very own intention). The Spirit prays for us, God-fearing ones. In other words, the Spirit helps us in our prayer. It is the Spirit who accompanies us in our prayer.

Reflections on the 2 nd reading The Holy Spirit has a big role in our prayer life. It is impossible to pray without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit expresses what is in our hearts. When we pray, it means that the Spirit is at work in us. Do we pray? How? Do we possess the Spirit? Having no time to pray is an indication of the absence of the Spirit in you.

Gospel reading: Matthew 13: Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn." The focus is on God’s patience.

Gospel reading: Matthew 13:24-30 Good Seed and Bad Seed 24 Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. Slaves’ initiative 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' Master’s restraint 29 He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn." A simple outline!

Gospel reading: Matthew 13:24-30 Good Seed and Bad Seed 24 Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. Slaves’ initiative 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' Master’s restraint 29 He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" Commentary Jesus explains the mystery of the kingdom of heaven (of God) in parables. We are allowed to make comparisons. But comparisons are by nature limping; they are odious. Therefore, as interpreters, we must seek the meaning/lesson of the parable for us, rather than the congruence of the reality (mystery) and the story. What is meaningful is something that touches our hearts and converts us. If there is no conversion, our reading is not meaningful.

Gospel reading: Matthew 13:24-30 Good Seed and Bad Seed 24 Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. Slaves’ initiative 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' In v.24, Jesus takes the freedom to compare the kingdom of heaven to a man sowing good seeds. V.25 describes the immediate action of the enemy: sowing weeds. The enemy comes like a thief at night, while everyone is sleeping. V.26 describes the immediate result: the crop (wheat) and weeds grow together. The slaves have a problem. Why are there weeds? They don’t know where they come from. v.27 The question in v.27 indicates that the master, not the slaves, is the sower. “Did you not sow…” the slaves ask.

Gospel reading: Matthew 13:24-30 Good Seed and Bad Seed 24 Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. Slaves’ initiative 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' Master’s restraint 29 He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" In v.28, the master knows the answer. “The enemy did it.” The slaves volunteer to pull them out. But the master prevents them from doing so. v.29 The reason: not to destroy the wheat altogether. In v.30, the master allows both to grow and will take care of them at harvest time. The master has a historical patience. He will order the harvesters to collect the weeds for burning and gather the wheat into the barn. The parable is about God’s patience in allowing sinners to thrive in his kingdom hoping that they will change later on.

Reflections on the gospel reading God is patient with sinners. He does not punish them right away. He waits for their conversion. But, of course, he will not wait for ever. There is an end to waiting. (warning) We must become good seeds. (conversion) The kingdom of God will be fully established at the end of time, when the evildoers will be eliminated.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm The first reading talks of God’s justice tempered with consideration. The psalms talks about God’s mercy and love. The second reading talks about the role of the Spirit in our prayerlife (God’s solidarity). The gospel reading talks of God’s patience until the end. We focus on God’s patience in our sharing and homilies.

How to develop your homily / sharing God is a patient God. God is not like us, many times impatient. God can wait for us to change even if it takes a long time.

In the first reading, God shows his patience by tempering his justice with clemency. God is not a tyrant God. He shows his power by being temperate in giving judgment. God is hard on those who are timid and skeptic, but he is considerate on those whom he finds hope (to those who will repent).

In the gospel reading, God shows his patience by allowing even the evil people to grow side by side with the good. God waits until the final judgment. God wants sinners to change.

In the second reading, God accompanies us in our prayers. By ourselves, we cannot pray. For us, who believe in the Lord, the Spirit prays within us. It patiently groans within us. It articulates to God what we need to express to him.

The readings invite us to conversion because: Though God is just, he is also compassionate, merciful and kind. He has a lot of patience with us sinners. There is no latecomer in repentance. God gives us all the chances and the opportunities to change. Let us take advantage of this grace period now, before the time is up.

Christians must respond to God by their personal conversion. Christians should not waste their time, delaying their own conversions. Change of heart must be now. We can have a better life with God if we respond now. We begin living according to the values of the kingdom of God now. Let us not abuse God’s patience.

We manifest changes in our lives by our external behavior. From indolence, laziness > to diligence. From sowing intrigues and confusion > to being truthful and honest in our motivations. From having too much time for entertainment and eating > to a more productive activity that contributes to the betterment of the church and society. From being destructive > to being constructive. From being ignorant > to knowledge of the Word of God. From being sinful > to being holy.

The eucharist strengthens us in our faith in the just, merciful and patient God. The eucharist enhances our prayer life in the Spirit. Sincerely receiving holy communion is a sign of our conversion to God. The eucharist qualifies us to belong to the kingdom of heaven.

Our Context of Sin and Grace Sowing confusion and intrigues Misinformation Unrepentant Does not pray Good legacy Sense of justice Considerate Merciful and kind Prayerful Converted

Suggested Songs Lord, have mercy You Are So Good