Archive for July 18, 2026

Sunday reflection with Dr Scott Hahn

Posted: July 18, 2026 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 12:13, 16–19

Psalm 86:5–6, 9–10, 15–16

Romans 8:26–27

Matthew 13:24–43


Of Wheat and Weeds

God is always teaching His people, as we hear in today’s First Reading.

And what does He want us to know? That He has care for all of us; that though He is a God of justice, even those who defy and disbelieve Him may hope for His mercy if they turn to Him in repentance.

This divine teaching continues in the three parables that Jesus tells in the Gospel today. Each describes the emergence of the kingdom of God from the seeds sown by His works and preaching. The kingdom’s growth is hidden like the working of yeast in bread; it’s improbable, unexpected, as in the way the tall mustard tree grows from the smallest of seeds.

Again, this week’s readings sound a note of questioning: Why does God permit the evil to grow alongside the good? Why does He permit some to reject the Word of His kingdom?

Because, as we sing in today’s Psalm, God is slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He is just, Jesus assures us—evildoers and those who cause others to sin will be thrown into the fiery furnace at the end of the age. But by His patience God is teaching us that above all He desires repentance and the gathering of all nations to worship Him and to glorify His name.

Even though we don’t know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit will intercede for us, Paul promises in today’s Epistle. But first, we must turn and call upon Him. We must commit ourselves to letting the good seed of His Word bear fruit in our lives.

So, we should not be deceived or lose heart when we see weeds among the wheat—truth and holiness mixed with error, injustice, and sin.

For now, He makes His sun rise on the good and the bad (see Matthew 5:45). But the harvest draws near. Let’s work so that we might be numbered among the righteous children—who will shine like the sun in the kingdom of the Father.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 18, 2026 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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If we are to follow after the heart of Jesus, our Lord, then we must be at all times merciful, even to those who persecute us and seek to destroy us.

Perhaps not physically, but by their plotting and bad-mouthing. They might seek to kill our spirits or tarnish our reputations. No matter what the case, we shall always remain faithful and obedient to the Lord, who asks that we be merciful and loving, even towards our enemies.

For he, the Lord alone, will vindicate us in his time. Amen.

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First reading
Micah 2:1-5
The plotters of evil will not escape


Woe to those who plot evil,
who lie in bed planning mischief!
No sooner is it dawn than they do it
– their hands have the strength for it.
Seizing the fields that they covet,
they take over houses as well,
owner and house they confiscate together,
taking both man and inheritance.
So the Lord says this:
Now it is I who plot
such mischief against this breed
as your necks will not escape;
nor will you be able to walk proudly,
so evil will the time be.
On that day they will make a satire on you,
sing a dirge and say,
‘We are stripped of everything;
my people’s portion is measured out and shared,
no one will give it back to them,
our fields are awarded to our despoiler.’

Therefore you will have no one
to measure out a share
in the community of the Lord.



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Gospel
Matthew 12:14-21
He cured them all but warned them not to make him known

The Pharisees went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.
    Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit,
and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed,
nor put out the smouldering wick
till he has led the truth to victory:
in his name the nations will put their hope.