Children of the Kingdom - Missionary Commentary for Sunday July 23, 2023

Readings for the 16th 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 or 13:24-30

USCCB link to the Sunday Readings 

Download a printable .pdf for easy sharing!

Modern agricultural technology is amazing. One person, in a large tractor can clear acres of land, plant seeds, fertilize, and eventually harvest. Already, some farmers are using robot tractors that prepare the field, sow seeds, and harvest.

The farmers, during the time of Jesus, had simple tools. They used a handheld hoe to break up the ground. Then the farmer walked the field, scattering the seeds by hand.

What is remarkable about today’s parable is the seed, who sows it, and the results. Jesus teaches his disciples – meaning us – that he is the farmer. The seeds are “the children of the kingdom,” also us. The harvest is the righteous who “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

The righteous begin as ordinary people. A nun who instructed children. A rowdy and romantic young man. Saint Teresa of Calcutta was a missionary to the dying, sick, and hungry in India. Saint Francis of Assisi left Italy to go on mission to Egypt, risking his life during the crusades, to proclaim a Gospel of peace. The Church proclaims them saints, superstars of missionary-discipleship.

Jesus calls all of us to mission. We need to break up the hard ground of our daily life so we can hear the call and let it take root in our hearts. The Holy Spirit, as St. Paul teaches, will help us pray for the grace of mission. God is patient with us, as the Book of Wisdom reminds us, and it is okay to cry out to our God who is slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Today is a good day to pray for the grace of mission so we, too, can become “children of the kingdom.” We believe that “no matter wherever you are, or whatever you do, God has a mission just for you.”
 

Notes on the Sunday Readings

First Reading

Today, from the Book of Wisdom, we learn that God is mighty, his might is the source of justice, and his mastery makes him lenient and kind. God makes reconciliation possible.

Psalm

We sing of God’s many attributes – goodness, forgiveness, abundant kindness, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and faithful. God attends to our pleading.

Second Reading

St. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit aids us in our weakness when we do not know how to pray and will intercede on our behalf with “inexpressible groanings.”

Gospel

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells “the crowds” three parables about the Kingdom of God; the landowner who sows wheat but suffers weeds sown by an enemy, the tiny mustard seed that grows into a bush where birds “dwell,” and yeast a woman mixes with three measures of flour (about 50 pounds). After Jesus dismisses the crowd, the disciples ask him to explain “the parable of the weeds.” Listen carefully. The one who sows is Jesus. The field is the world. The good seeds are the “children of the kingdom.” The weeds are children of “the evil one.” The enemy is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age and the harvesters, angels.

Connections

Go Forth… is forming missionary disciples and sharing their work:

Our podcast guest this week is Abbot Robert Igo OSB, who served for 25 years at the Monastery of Christ the Word in Zimbabwe. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify!

Register now for Mission Consult: Communication Tools and Best Practices on Thursday, July 20 at 2pm ET. Lisa Helene Bacalski, our communications specialist, will provide an overview of how tools and intentional strategies can provide focus and improve outreach efforts for mission.

Please pray for the missions.

God bless you in all the ways you Go Forth…