Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE MERCY, POWER, AND LOVE OF GOD

The first reading today, from the book of Wisdom, makes its point over and over, at least five times in five verses! God is mighty, but lenient to all. God’s power is shown in kindness and clemency, not in harshness and condemnation, and those who govern God’s people must govern in the same way, with kindness. This loving kindness and gentleness is not contrary to God’s might, but is a direct result of God’s primacy over all. Who are we, then, to judge what is in the hearts of our fellow Christians and all people, when God commands justice with love and clemency?

Likewise, the Holy Spirit makes up for our ignorance of what we need, speaking in a language we do not yet understand. But God knows our needs before we do, understands the intercessions of the Spirit, and helps us in our weakness. This is our hope: God’s mercy, power, and love.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Masses for the Week

• Sun. July 19 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish
• Mon. July 20 8:30 AM
• Weds. July 22 8:30 AM & 6:30 PM
• Thurs. July 23 8:30 AM
• Fri. July 24 8:30 AM
• Sat. July 25 8:30 AM & 5:30 PM
• Sun. July 26 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish

Announcements

Religious Education — Informational Meeting

If you feel called to help teach Religious Education or are currently serving as a catechist, there will be an informational meeting after the 9am Mass on July 26th.

Mother’s Guild — Donuts for Donations

The Mother’s Guild will be serving Donuts for Donations after the 9am and 12pm Mass today.

School Supplies

The Women’s Group is helping families in the community who can’t afford to buy school supplies. Please check the bulletin next week for items that are needed if you can help. School begins the first week of August.

St. John Enrichment Co-op — Donation Needs

St. John Enrichment Co-op is in need of some items as the school year begins for students & nursery. If you are interested in donating something on the list below, please drop it in the donation box in the hall. Thank you for your support! Needs: 4 hand sanitizers; 9 containers Lysol cleaning wipes; 4 - 18 gallon bins; 20 pocket folders; Pencils; Individually wrapped snacks; Foam play mat; Small baby/toddler noiseless toys.

New Water Cooler

We have a new water cooler in the hall that dispenses cold and hot water. Cups are on the top of the cooler. Please throw your cups in the trashcan.

Mass Intention Forms

Mass Intention forms can be found in the vestibule and hall. If you fill one out, please put it in the collection basket.

Kroger Community Rewards Program

The Kroger Community Rewards Program is an opportunity to raise funds for St. John by shopping at Kroger and swiping your Shopper’s card or entering your phone number. To begin this process go to https://www.Kroger.com/ and sign in or create a digital account. If you already have a digital account or Shopper’s card, simply link your shopper’s card to your account. If you have any questions call 1-800-576-4377.

Kroger Gift Cards

If you would like to help those in our community in need of food, please pick up a Kroger gift card and put it in the collection basket on Sunday.

Online Giving

Here is the established QR code for the parish if you would like to make your donation online.

Today’s Readings

First Reading: You taught your people that those who are just must likewise be kind (Wisdom 12:13, 16-19).

Psalm: Lord, you are good and forgiving (Psalm 86).

Second Reading: The Spirit comes to aid us in our weakness (Romans 8:26-27).

Gospel: Jesus proposes parables to the crowds, teaching them of the reign of God (Matthew 13:24-43 [24-30]).

Readings for the Week

Monday: Ex 14:5-18; Ex 15:1bc-6; Mt 12:38-42

Tuesday: 2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps 126:1bc-6; Mt 20:20-28

Wednesday: Ex 16:1-5, 9-15; Ps 78:18-19, 23-28; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

Thursday: Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b; Dn 3:52-56; Mt 13:10-17

Friday: Ex 20:1-17; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 13:18-23

Saturday: Ex 24:3-8; Ps 34:2-11; Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42

Sunday: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12; Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Rom 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52 [44-46]

Reflecting on the Word

Parables have layers of meaning that can give us insight into the action that the parable demands of us. The gospel today has several parables about the Kin-dom of God, that place where God’s people are gathered as family. Parables give us images to allow us to glimpse something as mysterious as the Kin-dom of God. The four-year-old children are fascinated by the image of the yeast. In the atrium where I gather with children, we teach the children to make dough with and without yeast. Once everything is mixed, the yeast cannot be taken out, it becomes a part of the dough. After an hour of waiting, we look at the two bowls of dough to see if we have an insight into this Kin-dom that Jesus is always talking about. The bowl with the yeasty dough looks, smells, and feels different. The children see the bubbles in the yeasty dough and say that the Kin-dom is: God’s love bubbling up...all of us people who grow and grow in heaven...oh! This is like the water and the wine at the altar (the water and wine cannot be separated, as the yeast and the flour cannot be separated)…

It is an exciting and fruitful conversation each week as a different child does the yeast work. They certainly hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit as they work with their hands to peel off layer by layer or meaning and action.

Excerpted from Living the Word

Mission Statement

We, the members of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, recognize and respect our diverse and multicultural character. By the grace of God, we will nurture our spiritual community through prayer, service, and example to become one family in Christ.

Adoration

8:00 AM — 1st Saturday of the month

7:00 PM — 1st & 3rd Friday (Spanish)