16TH SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 13:24-30) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
FIRST READING - 24:3-8
A reading from the Book of Exodus
When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,
they all answered with one voice,
“We will do everything that the LORD has told us.”
Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel
to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls
as peace offerings to the LORD,
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
the other half he splashed on the altar.
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.”
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
“This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his.”
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 13:24-30
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
16TH SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 13:24-30)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God in today's Gospel, Jesus Christ teaches everyone that the Kingdom of Heaven and Hell are real.
What is the Kingdom of Heaven? It is the Kingdom of God—a place of peace and joy, where one shares eternal life with Him. It is the final destination that all people are called to long for and seek.
So, are there bad things in the Kingdom of God? The answer is that the Kingdom of God is a beautiful, radiant, holy, and a happy place. There is no evil, no suffering, and nothing bad—only what is good and perfect in the presence of God.
Why is it that, while living on earth, people have not yet attained the Kingdom of Heaven, and must wait until God the Father calls them out of this world to know whether their souls will enter the Kingdom of Heaven or fall into Hell? God the Father has revealed that those living in this world must undergo a lifelong spiritual battle against Satan, the devil. Satan is like the weeds, which will live and exist invisibly alongside the wheat; the wheat represents the good people that God the Father created.
Humans have two choices: one is to follow God, and the other is to follow the devil, Satan. Those who follow God will enter and enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven with Him; those who follow Satan are given freedom by God, but when He calls them out of this world, each person will have to face judgment for their choice.
Today’s Word of God warns everyone to know that the Kingdom of Heaven is real, and Hell is real. When God calls people out of this world, He will separate the wheat from the weeds: those who follow God and those who follow Satan. Those who follow God will enjoy eternal happiness and glory with God the Father. Those who follow Satan will enter Hell, a place of darkness, where the fire never goes out, and eternal suffering, because their souls will always long to see the face of God the Father but will never be able to.
This is the message God gives to humanity beforehand: whoever has ears, let them hear.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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