16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (2026)
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)
Romans 8:26-27
Matthew 13:24-43
July 19, 2026
What image of God do you have? Do you see God as loving? God the Father sent his Son Jesus to save us through his death on the Cross. The general New Testament image of God is that of a loving God. Love is not just something God does. It is who He is (see 1 John 4:7-21).
On the other hand, the Old Testament image of God for many people is God as punishing. It is true God punishes people at times. When the people turned away from him, He allowed them to be defeated by their enemies. At other times God sent pestilence upon the people as punishment for their sins.
While it is true that God punished his people at times in the Old Testament, we can also read stories of his forgiveness in the Old Testament. For instance, Numbers 21:4-9 tells the story of both God punishing his people and then restoring them in His Love.
God is a god of justice. God is also merciful.
His might is the source of his justice. God could use his might to punish for our sins but what does God have to gain for himself by punishing us? When God punishes, it is an act of His Love, as He seeks to lead us away from sin to what is good.
In His Love, God chooses to be “lenient to all.” God chooses to “judge with clemency.” God is merciful. In our sins, we deserve punishment but God gives us “good ground for hope” as He permits us to repent of our sins. Hope is something we very much need in the world today.
As much as we read of God’s mercy in passages like today’s first reading, His Mercy is also found in the psalms. Psalm 86 describes God as “good and forgiving.” He is “slow to anger, abounding in kindness.” God could choose to leave us to our sins. Instead, He chooses in His Love to give us hope and strength to do what is good.
The Spirit always comes to our aid. The “one who searches hearts” always walks with us in our most difficult moments.
In His Love, God does not rush to judge us. God sows good seed in us and then patiently waits for us to bear good fruit.
The problem is that the devil sows evil (weeds) around us. When we become like undesirable weeds in sin, God does not rush to judge us. He gives us time. In His Love, God is more patient with us than we deserve.
God knows the goodness in which He created us. Thus, the “one who searches hearts” sees the potential for good within us.
Yet, we should never take God’s Mercy for granted. There will come a day when there is a final harvest and we will face a final judgment. Will you (or I) be among the weeds or the good fruit?
Yes, God is merciful. Many people think today that everyone gets into Heaven because God forgives everyone. God wants everyone to get into Heaven but Jesus’ teaching is clear that not everyone does. (Monsignor Charles Pope provides an excellent understanding of this in his book, The Hell There Is (Gastonia, NC: TAN Books. 2025. see my reflection on his book).
God wants to forgive us. Jesus would not have died on the Cross if He did not want us to be forgiven. Do you recognize your sins for what they are and are you ready to ask God for forgiveness? Are you ready to let God transform you in his divine image?
Peace,
Fr. Jeff