Growing in the Likeness of God in the Midst of Evil

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 19, 2026

Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16–19; Psalm 86:5–6, 9–10, 15–16; Romans 8:26–27; Matthew 13:24–43

Parable of theSower by Domenico Fetti
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/5nXBjyfe2LY

How dare someone do that? Why is there so much evil in this world? Why does wickedness never cease to exist? These are some typical questions we often ask when we are threatened or see evil occupying the good places. Often we see this daunting task of overcoming evil. However, evil does exist. Wicked people continue to do things which are not supposed to be done. There are no limits, age, status or position. In this context, we must read today's liturgical reading on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time and draw inspiration for our lives.  

1. God Works Patiently in the Midst of Imperfection

In the Gospel Matthew 13:24–43, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. The servants want to pull out the weeds immediately, but the master tells them to wait until the harvest. This teaches us that God is infinitely patient. We often want quick solutions to problems, instant justice, or immediate perfection in ourselves and others. Yet God allows time for growth, conversion, and transformation.

The field is the world, but it is also our own hearts. Good and evil often coexist within us. Rather than condemning us, God patiently nurtures the good and invites us to choose His way every day. His patience is not weakness but mercy. Jesus too experienced evil around him. Therefore, he called remain faithful in ordinary daily life to the God of strength.

2. The Holy Spirit Prays When We Cannot

St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:26–27 that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness." There are moments when words fail us—times of grief, confusion, disappointment, failure, loss, or fear. We may not know what to pray for or how to pray. Yet we are never alone. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with "groanings too deep for words."

Prayer is not about finding perfect words or intentions but about opening our hearts to God. Even our silence, tears, and struggles become prayer when entrusted to the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a weapon against temptations and fear. Prayer gives strength and courage. It builds and comforts. 

3. Why Judge Others Too Quickly?

The servants in the parable are eager to separate the weeds from the wheat. Jesus reminds us that appearances can be deceptive. We might perceive wrongly. A person who seems far from God today may become a great saint tomorrow. Likewise, someone who appears righteous may still need conversion. Being good wheat means bearing the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Every day offers opportunities to grow closer to Christ through our choices.

Our task is not to judge but to love, encourage, and witness to the Gospel. Final judgment belongs to God alone, who knows every heart completely. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast reveal that God's Kingdom often begins in small, unnoticed ways. A small act of kindness, a sincere prayer, an encouraging word, or an act of forgiveness may seem insignificant, but God can use these small beginnings to accomplish extraordinary things.

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. What kind of fruit is my life producing for my family, community, workplace, parish, and society?
2. How have I experienced the Holy Spirit's help during difficult times?
3. Do I rely on the Holy Spirit in my moments of weakness, or do I try to carry my burdens alone?

Concluding Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are patient with our weaknesses and merciful toward our failures. Teach us to trust Your perfect timing and to resist judging others. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, especially when we are weak and do not know how to pray. Help us to be good wheat in Your field, bearing fruits of love, peace, kindness, and faithfulness. May our lives quietly build Your Kingdom until the day we shine forever in Your presence. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

16 July 2026

Deeply Rooted, Growing Mightily

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 12, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:10–11; Psalm 65:10–14; Romans 8:18–23; Matthew 13:1–23

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here:https://youtu.be/0e_JnzsTs4g

Patience, trust, confidence and hope determine the life of a farmer. A person who tills the soil knows what it is going to bring. Every effort has its fruits. There are no calculated risks here. It is said in most parts of India that farmers depend on the rains. A farmer's life depends not on choice but chance. It is not that everyone is gifted with everything. However, each one is blessed with great capacity to improve upon the gifts that one is bestowed with. As we celebrate the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the liturgical readings give us rich food for thought and reflection, so that we continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge even about the things of this world. 

1. God is ever generous

In today's Gospel, Matthew 13:1–23, Jesus uses a simple image from everyday life—a farmer sowing seeds—to reveal a profound truth about the Kingdom of God. The seed is the Word of God, generously scattered by the sower without discrimination. The difference lies not in the quality of the seed, but in the condition of the soil. This parable invites each of us to examine the "soil" of our own hearts. It is to cultivate loving relationships, integrity in our work, concern for the poor, forgiveness of enemies, and joyful witness to Christ. 

Our Burdens and God's Intervention at the Right Moment

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 05, 2026

Readings: Zechariah 9:9–10; Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13–14; Romans 8:9, 11–13; Matthew 11:25–30

Christ blessing the children
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Often our lives are burdened with things. Life here on earth is not easy. It may seem nice, beautiful, happy-go-lucky, yet there are times when we feel down and have questions which may not have immediate answers. Especially when the person is diagnosed with an incurable illness, when married life gets into trouble, when there is no peace in religious or priestly life, when someone does not find the right partner in one's life, when someone struggles to find an appropriate job, when, despite hard work and investment, nothing is clicking in one's business enterprise, we feel immensely miserable. The list is endless. Everyone is in trouble on this earth. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes said, "We are chained everywhere." However, when we place our trust in God completely and allow God to take control of us, our worries certainly go down. Sometimes, we must allow God to decide for us rather than we decide for ourselves based on our abilities and inclinations. It is not we who decided to come into this world. The liturgical readings on this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time encourage us to put our burden on our God.

1. Our Success only when God intervenes in our lives

The readings of this Sunday invite us to discover the true source of peace, strength, and freedom. In a world that glorifies success, competition, and self-sufficiency, Jesus presents a radically different way—the way of humility, surrender, and life in the Spirit. Jesus begins with a prayer of thanksgiving in Matthew 11:25–30: "I thank you, Father... because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children."