"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

First Reading               Wisdom 12:13,16-19 Psalm                              Ps. 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 Second Reading          Romans 8:26-27 Gospel                           Matthew 13:24-43 EMBRACING CONSISTENCY AND MESSIANIC PATIENCE Dear friends, today, the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), we continue Jesus' dialogue with the people in parables. The Gospel for this Sunday is the parable of Weeds among Wheat. This is another parable of agriculture.  In considering the parable of Weeds among Wheat, three things shall be delved into: The fact that the WEEDS AND WHEAT WERE SOWN ON THE SAME LAND or FIELD; Whether leaving the Weeds to grow until harvest is an act of CONDONING EVIL OR MESSIANIC PATIENCE; and WHY WAS THE WHEAT UNABLE TO OVERSHADOW THE WEEDS? The first is that b...

1st Reading     Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm                Ps. 145: 1-2.8-9.10-11.13cd-14 (R. 1) 2nd Reading   Romans 8: 9.11-13 Gospel              Matthew 11: 25-30 FROM LABOUR TO YOKE; FROM HORSE TO COLT Today is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and the Second Sunday in July. We shall focus on the transition from labour to yoke, taking interest in what Jesus says in today's Gospel (Matthew 11:28-29a). Is a yoke not a burden? From what kind of labour and burden are we to be given rest? What kind of yoke is easy and gives rest? The readings for this Sunday then clearly inform us that suffering is inherent in the world, but our response to it matters. The first reading (Zechariah 9:9-10) gives the image of a warrior arriving in battle to establish his sovereignty and bring peace while expanding his territory. The context of this reading, considering the whole of Zechariah 9, is the Po...

1st Reading     2 Kings 4: 8-11. 14-16a Psalm               Ps. 89: 2-3.16-17.18-19 (R. cf. 2a) 2nd Reading   Romans 6: 3-4. 8-11 Gospel              Matthew 10: 37-42 A PROPHET'S REWARD Dear friends, today, the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), happens to be the first Sunday in July. It is an opportune moment to see the Word of God as a guide in the new month traditionally dedicated to the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. This Sunday, we shall be dealing with the question of what actually is the prophet's reward. In the Gospel passage (Matthew 10: 37-42), which is a continuum of last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus gives a series of instructions, forming part of the larger set of instructions in Matthew 10. Particular interest shall be given to the instruction on the reception of a prophet (vv. 41-42) because it is in tandem with the clear message from the first reading (2 Kings 4: 8-11.14-16a). Our bas...