Daily Marriage Tip for July 20, 2014:
“The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness.” (Rom 8:26) When a difficult decision looms, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. It can be as simple as praying, “Come, Holy Spirit!”
Scripture Study Sixteenth
Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A
Opening prayer
Wisdom 12:13,16-19
(Ps 86:5-6,9-10,15-16)
Romans 8:26-27
Matthew 13:24-43
Overview of the Gospel:
• Last Sunday, we were introduced to Matthew 13 as a chapter of parables. This week we have three more parables, all with “growth” as a theme.
• Jesus tells another parable about a “sower”, this time one who has an enemy who secretly sows his field with weeds. This certain type of weed (called “tares” or “darnel” in some translations) contained a fungus that was poisonous to people and animals, causing severe nausea. This was sometimes done for revenge or maliciousness and the Romans had severe penalties to those caught committing such an act. These weeds look just like wheat in the early stages of growth thus making them almost impossible to remove without ruining the wheat.
• The owner of the field decides to let the wheat and the tares grow side by side until the harvest. In biblical terms, “the harvest” is often associated with a day of God’s judgment (Jeremiah 51:33; Joel 4:13; Hosea 6:11; Revelation 14:14-20).
Questions:
• What does the 1st Reading teach us about God’s might, justice and mercy? How is the way that God acts (or does not act) different from the way that we might act? What, according to the writer of the Book of Wisdom, should this teach us about God and ourselves?
• In our journey to becoming more like God, from Whom do we receive assistance? What kind of assistance does he give us?
• In the parable of the weeds (verses 24-30 and verses 36-40), who is the sower? What does the wheat represent? The weeds? The enemy? The harvest? • How does this parable relate to Matthew 7:15-20?
• Why does this parable so puzzle the disciples? Why is patience and tolerance toward unbelievers difficult for them (and for us)?
• In the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast (verses 31-33), what aspects of Jesus’ ministry seem small? What is the promise if the small seed is sown? • How does the kingdom of heaven become evident to others? • Where (in your life or in your parish) have you seen faith like “yeast” or a “mustard seed” have a great impact? Where is the harvest field God has placed you in? • What accountability are you now feeling for yourself? For others? To God? What are you “hearing” God call you to do as a result?
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 827, 2284—2287, 764
Closing prayer
Jesus is the teacher of holiness. I go to him because I want him to teach me how to become a saint. Of what use to me is all I learn in school if I do not become holy? -St. Francis de Sales