July 19, 2026
16th Sunday
Ordinary Time
FOCUS: The Lord is kind and forgiving to all who call upon his name.
Today’s readings speak of our merciful and patient God – one who teaches the just that they must be kind. Let us place ourselves in the field of the Gospel. Although we strive to be the wheat, growing in faith and loving others, the weeds of sin and temptation grow alongside us. Let us always remember that the master sower is kind and merciful, and we must turn to him in repentance.
What's in Your Heart
For Matthew, faith is never stagnant. If there's faith, there's growth: good seed planted in a field, a tiny mustard seed growing into a mighty bush, yeast making the dough rise and turning wheat into wholesome bread. If I'm alive in God, there should be plenty of signs of growth in my life.
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Where in my ministry do I see signs of growth flowing from my faith?
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Where in my own spiritual life do I see signs of life? How has my relationship with God grown in the past years?
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How do I handle the "weeds" in my own life and ministry? Do I let their presence choke the growth of the good wheat?
Homily Stories
My wife and I were young and naïve when we bought our first house. We moved into it in early spring, and soon discovered that the woman who owned the house before us had been a wonderful gardener. Each new day of spring seemed to reveal another flower, plant, or shrub coming to life.
Luckily, the neighbors living on either side of our house were patient with us. These elderly couples were themselves great gardeners and, after watching us mishandle the garden chores for a while, began to offer gentle advice and instruction. My favorite memory is the day Olga leaned over the fence and said with a kind smile, "You know, that tall plant you keep watering every day? That one's a weed." And not only was I feeding the weeds, I was also yanking plants that, if they had been left to grow, would have blossomed into brilliant flowers.
Today's gospel talks about weeds and wheat and how to handle them. We all need spiritual neighbors who have learned a thing or two about the weeds and the wheat and how they crop up in our lives. Listen to the people who know. Cultivate sources of wisdom in your life—the sacraments, good spiritual reading, daily prayer—and pay attention to them. Because life isn't just a bed of roses.
First Reading
Second Reading
Gospel
Quotes
[Jesus] spoke in parables, because he wished to excite them to inquiry. He spoke obscurely, to make them listen; for things plainly expressed are apt to be lightly esteemed.
—Saint John Chrysostom