Something to Reflect Upon - JULY 19, 2020: Today's Gospel

Today's Gospel

Gospel Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:
“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.”’”

He proposed another parable to them.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

He spoke to them another parable.
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Prayer for Deliverance and Healing

Prayer for Deliverance and Healing

“Heavenly Father, thank you for your precious grace and mercy. Lord, thank you, for letting me see another day. Father, thank you, for a new direction and fresh hope. God, as I go through life trying to get close to where you would have me, I’m grateful. That you have never left my side no matter the situation, no matter the state, no matter my mistakes. Lord God, as I continue to move forward with each day, I thank you for your light that keeps on shinning within. For your powerful hands that continue to hold and your gracious love that protects me. Lord, You took a sinner like me, the least of those expected. You are using me for your glory. In circumstances that I didn’t ask for, but you chose me for what role you have in mind.

Blessed God, I ask that the same merciful hand and love be extended to those who are in pain and hurting. Lord, may you continue to change the atmosphere Lord so that your light shines on for eternity. Creator of heaven and the earth. God, please continue showering your love throughout this nation to those who don’t know love. Those who don’t know you, or just desire to be in your presence. Father, may they get to know unconditional love through you. I pray that you continue to touch, heal, and deliver, send help for those who are in need. Release those who are in spiritual bondage, heal those who are in pain. Send good news to those who are in need of help. Comfort those who are lonely. Strengthen those who feel weak. Give wisdom to those who are confused.

In Jesus's name, I pray, Amen.”