The Word today, W16B
- Admin
- Jul 20, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 27, 2024
July 22 - July 27, 2024
St Mary Magdalene
Song of Songs 3:1-4 The Song of Songs unfolds as a series of love poems, serious and playful. These include what we may call quest stories or reflections on seeking the beloved. Our reading, beautiful in itself, makes for a great introduction to today’s Gospel.
St Bridget of Sweden, patroness of Europe
Galatians 2:19-20 The reading is chosen for feast of St Brigid, who had mystical experiences. A more accurate translation of the reading would be as follows: For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:19–20)
John 15:1-8 The discourse of the vine invites us all to recognized ourselves as the branches, all recipients of the grace of Christ.
St Charbel Makhlouf, priest; St Declan, bishop
Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 Today, we hear the well remembered story of the call of Jeremiah. Clearly, it was an overwhelming experience, which made him feel unworthy. He went on to become a truly great prophet, proclaiming God’s word before and during the Exile.
Matthew 13:1-9 The parable of the sower is heard in two version, the original parable and a later church interpretation. It might be helpful to set consciously aside the later reading and just hear it today for its own sake. Like all the original parables it is about the kingdom, a kingdom of humble beginnings leading to astonishing growth.
St James, apostle
2 Corinthians 4:7-15 The reading is special for the feast. The Corinthians blew cold and hot when it came to St Paul. Once more, in this reading he defends himself, and reveals something of the inner motivation, the inner person, his sense of apostleship.
Matthew 20:20-28 Again especially chosen for the feast, this reading tells a familiar and instructive tale with one interesting difference. In Mark, it is James and John who make the blunder. In Matthew, to spare the blushes of the emerging leadership, this “role” is assigned to their mother! In any case, the message is untouched: leadership in the faith community is costly service, modelled on Jesus’ own service.
Sts Joachim and Anne, parents of the BVM
Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 Our reading is full of pathos. God himself tells the story of his choice of Israel, in very poetic language. At the same time, God’s expresses his consternation at the ways things have turned out. It is all expressed in a very human way, but a deep truth stands at the heart of it all.
Matthew 13:10-17 Our reading is a challenge to us to listen and to see, so that we may grasp fully the message of Jesus.
Jeremiah 7:1-11 A tough speech from Jeremiah, calling on people not to delude themselves with false assurances of piety. And yet…God will stay with them.
Matthew 13:24-30 The parable may well be directed to Matthew’s church at the time of writing. In a community commanded to perfection, the temptation to expel the less than perfect may have been strong. The message here is that it is none your business…who knows how people may change and grow?
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bd, July 21). Sixteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072124.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/
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