What can malicious weed-sowing tell us about the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:25)? The image Jesus uses in this parable is a common everyday example of planting, harvesting, and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the proper time. Uprooting them too early, though, can destroy the good plants in the process.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 20, 2014 (16A)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Mass Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: What is Faith?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of Wisdom, Chapter 12, Verses 13, 16-19
1. Care, justice, mercy, leniency. What would world history be like if all leaders had possessed these qualities? Are you full of mercy, kindness and caring or could you use a little “tapping off’?
2. Does the fact that you can repent for your sins give you hope? How does this translate into your dealings with other people?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16
1. Our psalmist pleads with the Lord to hear his prayer. What do you think you have to do to get the Lord to listen to your prayer?
2. Out psalmist is confident of God's mercy ('Lord, you are good and forgiving.') Do you feel that sometimes you are asking too much of the Lord, especially in times when you are not deserving of his mercy? What inspires you to keep petitioning the Lord?
Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 26-28
1. Discuss this quote from Prayer by Hans Urs von Balthasar,
“I have the conviction that my inadequate attempt to understand is supported by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me, that my acts of worship, petition and thanksgiving are borne along and remodeled by the Spirit’s infinite and eternal acts.”… “The Spirit breaks forth out of the very core of the believer’s spiritual life, showing him [her] the way, stirring him to action, thinking, willing and praying with him [her].”2. What are some ways the Spirit has come to your aid when you have needed help. Do you ever call on the Spirit when you are in need? Do you remember that the Spirit is present with you?
Gospel
According to Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 24-43
1. In the first parable, is the master patient and lenient or does he judge quickly? Are you patient with others or quick to judge?
2. Can you always tell weeds from flowers, or saints from sinners? When you are quick to judge could you mistake a saint for a sinner? Is God patient with you as regards the “weeds” in your own garden? How patient are you with yourself?
Post Your Comments Online
Please share below your reflections on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
“Turn toward me, and have pity on me,
ReplyDeletegive your strength to your servant.”
We take refuge in the same heavenly Father
as Christ did.
Even when we are far away,
the Lord has pity on us.
Even though we forget Him,
He does not forget us,
He searches our hearts;
He gathers us into his mansion
at the end of the age.
He empowers us
to fight a good fight.
God saves us from our enemies
and also from ourselves.
All we have to do is
open our hearts to Him.
Our Psalmist never stops asking,
and he is rightly sure
that God could never stop giving.
God could scarcely resist our prayers.
The Lord is present to us;
He listens; He pardons; He saves.
God's goodness overwhelms us.
Even the pagans will come to worship
God and glorify his name.
Amen