Daily Readings - Sun Jul 23 2023
Wisdom
13For neither is there any other God but you, who has care of all, to whom you would show that you did not give judgment unjustly16For your power is the beginning of justice, and, because you are Lord of all, you make yourself to be lenient to all17For you reveal power to those who do not believe you to be perfect in power, and you expose the arrogance of those who do not know you18Yet, you are the master of power, since you judge with tranquility, and since you administer us with great reverence; for it is close to you to be used whenever you will19But you have taught your people, through such works, that they must be just and humane, and you have made your sons to be of good hope, because in judging you provide a place for repentance from sins
Matthew
24He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field25But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away26And when the plants had grown, and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared27So the servants of the Father of the family, approaching, said to him: ‘Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?28And he said to them, ‘A man who is an enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Is it your will that we should go and gather them up?29And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps in gathering the weeds, you might also root out the wheat together with it30Permit both to grow until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers: Gather first the weeds, and bind them into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my storehouse.’ 31He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field32It is, indeed, the least of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is greater than all the plants, and it becomes a tree, so much so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches.33He spoke another parable to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s justice, the mystery of growth, and the quiet yet transformative power of faith. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear that God, as the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator, is also infinitely lenient and merciful. This passage emphasizes that God’s justice is not about harsh punishment but about offering opportunities for repentance and growth. It reminds us that God’s power is not wielded with arrogance but with patience and care for all creation.
The Gospel parables from Matthew expand on this theme. The parable of the weeds among the wheat teaches us about God’s patience and trust in the process of growth. Just as the farmer waits for the harvest to separate the wheat from the weeds, God allows good and evil to coexist in this world, trusting that good will ultimately prevail. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven remind us that even the smallest acts of faith and love can have a profound impact. They encourage us to trust in the slow, often invisible, work of God’s grace in our lives and in the world.
These readings call us to live with patience, trust, and hope. In a world where evil and suffering can seem overwhelming, we are reminded not to lose faith. Like the farmer who waits for the harvest, we are called to trust in God’s plan and to nurture the good that has been sown in our hearts. The Holy Spirit, as St. Paul writes in the second reading, helps us in our weakness, interceding for us when we do not know how to pray. Let us, therefore, embrace the quiet, persistent work of God’s grace in our lives, knowing that even the smallest seeds of faith can grow into something extraordinary.